VILLAGERS keen to give blood in rural Torridge claim they are being poorly treated by the NHS.

In Bradworthy disappointed folk can no longer give blood as the NHS National Blood Service donor team has stopped visiting the village.

And at Hartland blood donors have been warned not enough are turning out to give blood.

Chairman of Bradworthy Parish Council Margaret Coles said: "There was no consultation about this. We just got a letter saying the service was stopping. We feel betrayed and let down."

The reason given was that to make it worth the donor team visiting the village a guaranteed 80 people had to give a unit of blood — and this wasn't happening, say the NHS.

It's a claim disputed by residents and parish councillors.

Councillor Coles said: "I have given blood about 40 times and I would say half the village gives blood through the year."

Another villager said that at least 80 people attended the donor sessions.

Margaret Millman is the receptionist at Bradworthy doctors' surgery in The Square and used to pop over the road to the Memorial Hall to give blood.

Mrs Millman, of St Johns Court, has an award for giving more than 25 pints of blood.

She said: "There are 1,000 people in Bradworthy, with more in the surrounding villages. We all used to be able to go and give blood easily and conveniently but now it takes hours out of the day. I imagine a lot of people just won't give blood now. The service has cut off its own blood supply."

Now residents wishing to give blood have to make their way by car to either Bude, Holsworthy or Bideford. And even then they may not be able to give blood.

Mrs Millman said: "I went but it was so busy I couldn't give blood so I had to come home again and I know people who were told to come back later."

Blood donors in Hartland could be facing similar treatment after receiving a letter saying that not enough people were giving blood.

Torridge District Council member for Hartland, Adam Symons, is a regular donor.

He said: "I was told that blood donors from Bradworthy could go to Bude or Holsworthy, but they are awkward to get to as there isn't any public transport.

"I give blood at Hartland and although at the last donor session the number giving blood was above the target number, I have just got a letter saying that in the two sessions before that the number was below the target."

An NHS spokesman said a review of the service in Holsworthy would be carried out in 2012. He also said every area had different operating criteria but cost against result was often a contributing factor.

● See Comment — page 44.