A former town centre toy shop has been turned into a blood plasma donation centre.

The new site - aimed at helping combat the rise in Covid-19 - will open next week in the lower floor of Ashford's County Square shopping centre.

The unit formerly housed the Kids Stuff toy shop, which closed in September 2018 after 12 years of trading.

Nearby residents who have recovered from the coronavirus are being asked to donate blood plasma, which can be given to ongoing patients to speed recovery.

Donation takes about 45 minutes, and the whole visit - including the donation, snacks and checks - takes about an hour and 15 minutes.

Your body usually replaces the plasma you’ve donated in 24-48 hours, as well as the donated antibodies.

Already being collected in 28 areas, Ashford is one of 14 new plasma collection sites that have been announced due to the "significant number of potential donors" according to the NHS.

Hospitals in Kent have transfused blood plasma into about 24 patients so far.

With the whole county in Tier 4, the NHS has confirmed that donors can still travel to the centre as long as they are fit and healthy.

The NHS said: "Giving blood and plasma – including in Tier 4 – is classed as essential travel and donation sessions will stay open, with appointments remaining as normal.

"The only two days of the year that blood donations are not collected is Christmas Day and New Year’s Day, with appointments available on Christmas Eve and Boxing Day.

"An extra 1,500 units of blood is currently needed every week and extra appointments have been added across the country to help meet this need.

"Permanent donor centres in major towns and cities generally have the best appointment availability."

To register as a donor, click here

To keep up-to-date with all the latest developments with your local hospitals and other health stories, click here.

For the latest coronavirus news and advice, click here.

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