Two blood donors have been rewarded for their efforts to help to keep the hospital’s blood bank fully stocked.

Janice Richards and Shauna Peyton said that donating blood was “an easy way to help people” and that it could save lives.

The pair were winners of a raffle for those who had donated blood in the past year.

A regular donor, Ms Richards, who won a night’s stay at the Hamilton Princess and Beach Club, said: “I started to donate when an e-mail was sent round asking employees to donate blood and I’ve been doing it for several years.

“It is important for people to donate as it saves lives. It is needed for certain medical conditions, and I’m a perfect match for someone in Bermuda who has sickle cell and so I’m called when they are in need of a treatment.”

Ms Peyton, who won a champagne brunch at the resort, added: “Blood donation is an easy way to help people. If you can donate you should as you never know when you or someone you know or friends or family will need a blood donation — and you also get cookies.”

Last month doctors warned that supplies of blood were not keeping up with demand.

Congratulating the winners, Eyitayo Fakunle, consultant haematologist for the Bermuda Hospitals Board, said: “With over 2,000 transfusions in Bermuda in 2021, our need for regular donors is growing.

“We are so grateful to those who regularly attend and encourage everyone to consider donating if they can, that it is wonderful they get to participate in the raffle.

“A big thank you as well to Hamilton Princess for the raffle prizes, and also for being a regular participant in our Corporate Blood Drive competition.”

Tim Morrison, the hotel’s general manager, said: “We are very proud to support and encourage blood donation.

“It is very important for us to have adequate blood supplies for those in our community who need it, and so the Hamilton Princess feels it is very valuable for us to contribute and support every year.”