TORY leader Annabel Goldie joined in the NHS 60th anniversary week celebrations by giving blood in Edinburgh yesterday.
She visited the Scottish National Blood Transfusion Service at its Edinburgh donor centre.
Her visit came at a time when Scotland's base of active blood donors is falling.
"I am delighted to be here today, to help celebrate the 60th birthday o
f our NHS," the Tory leader said.
"The Scottish National Blood Transfusion Service is such a vital part of this country's most wonderful institution, the National Health Service."
Her visit came a day after Deputy First Minister Nicola Sturgeon officially launched the NHS 60 celebrations at a special reception in Edinburgh Castle with frontline staff, volunteers and patients.
She was then joined by the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh for the opening of a new heart and lung centre at the Golden Jubilee Hospital in Clydebank.
Wednesday saw the start of the anniversary week programme of national events, which will culminate in an address by Ms Sturgeon at St. Giles' Cathedral attended by faith leaders, patients, carers and frontline staff.
Local NHS Boards are also engaged in a programme of celebratory events across Scotland.
The full article contains 204 words and appears in Edinburgh Evening News newspaper.
