It may interest your readers to know the National Blood Service (NBS) will not accept donations of blood from gay men or anyone who has had sex with a gay man.

Quite apart from the Dark Ages-style discrimination (all blood received by the NBS is routinely screened for HIV and AIDS), the ban seems pointless.

I am sure most people know it is unprotected sex, straight or gay, which might lead to HIV infection.

Surely the NBS would be better served by prohibiting donations from people who have had unsafe sex?

Sadly, the "Valentine call for blood donors" exposes the NBS as the prejudiced and heartless organisation it remains.

I am sure many people living in Brighton and Hove would like to donate blood but would be turned away as "ineligible".

Gay men are not permitted to donate blood but gay women are allowed to do so.

Many universities, schools and council-affiliated enterprises are unable to host NBS blood collections due to the NBS's contravention of these organisations' equal opportunities policies.

Perhaps this is a large part of the reason the NBS is so critically short of blood.

-Clare Green, Hove