This will make your blood boil...

Now as scams go, an unofficial 'give blood' campaign hardly sounds like the most devastating development to hit the UK in recent years.

You might wonder what, indeed, could be wrong with a few posters that urge people to open up a vein and keep the nation's blood bank topped up.

After all, giving blood is not just generous and selfless, it's a vital contribution to ensure the NHS keeps functioning: just 4% of us donate the blood that the other 96% of us rely on.

Sadly, and somewhat predictably, the problems begin when money is involved.

What else would motivate a private company with seemingly no links to the Blood Service or the NHS to nobly take it upon themselves to increase stocks of the red stuff?

If Barracuda films, which trades under the name Town and Country Publications, did have any links to the National Blood Service, they'd know their cash-related efforts are not welcome.

So what is going on?

Well Town and Country Publications produce their own little blood posters and they generously leave lots of blank space around the outside so that other companies can buy adverts and, effectively sponsor the posters.

Ok, they don't pretend any of that money goes to the NHS, however we did film their sales agent claiming they work on behalf of The National Blood Service and saying their posters are all officially approved.

Definitely a misleading sales pitch. But why is The National Blood Service so angry? After all, these posters are still giving out the correct message, right?

Wrong. Not only does it seem that very few of these posters actually get put up in public, but Town and Country's antics cynically exploit the good name of the Blood Service and the benevolence of people that want to help.

In the end, the Blood Service doesn't function on cash. Its currency of choice is goodwill. It relies on public-spirited people to get up off their sofa and make their way to a blood donation clinic.

Yet, sadly Town and Country Publications have found a way of making money from people who care about the blood service. Certainly, the individuals I spoke to would never have bought an advert on one of the unofficial posters if the salesperson had told them the truth.

I doubt that will trouble Town and Country Publications though. After all, those people have already paid for their advert.

And if you'd like to make a difference and give blood, please see the official website to find your nearest location: www.blood.co.uk

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