The age limit which prevents regular blood donors from continuing to give blood beyond their 70th birthday has been scrapped.
The NHS's Blood and Transplant authority said it was based on the fact that older donors were healthier and fitter than in the past.
The change could see an extra 15,000 donations a year across the UK.
There are currently 1.414 million registered blood donors in the UK, with one in ten aged 60 or above.
Five thousand donors were due to reach the age limit in the next year.
But statistics show many more people are remaining in employment past retirement age.
In addition, people aged over 65 take up to 25% more exercise than they did a decade ago.
The age limit on blood donations was raised from 65 to 70 in 1998.
An age limit was put in place as a precautionary measure to ensure the safety of the donor, but recent evidence from other blood services has shown no harm to donors over the age of 70.
Loyal donors
Lynda Hamlyn, chief executive of NHS Blood and Transplant, said: "Our older donors are amongst our most loyal and many want to keep giving beyond their 70th birthday.
"We continually review our donor criteria and, given the steady improvement we have seen over recent years in the general fitness of our older donors, it is now safe for us to remove our upper age limit for donation."
People who have donated in the last two years will be able to continue giving as long as they meet selection rules.
Gordon Lishman, director of the charity Age Concern, said: "Many older blood donors will welcome the news that their age will no longer prevent them from donating blood, allowing them to continue contributing to this vital service.
"The change to National Blood Service rules is a great example of how breaking down age barriers brings huge benefits, not only to older people, but society in general.
"We hope it will encourage other organisations to look carefully at their policies and ensure they don't unnecessarily exclude people because of their age."
Earlier this year some people with diabetes and high blood pressure were cleared to donate blood for the first time.
A committee of experts ruled it was safe for these groups to give blood, even if they are taking medication to control their condition.
NHS Blood and Transplant is also asking individuals of all ages to donate blood over Christmas, when supplies often come under intense pressure.
On average, the blood services across the UK need 8,200 donations each day to keep up stocks.
Blood does not keep for long and so the blood services need to have sufficient stocks to meet demand for between nine and 10 days.
Story from BBC NEWS:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/1/hi/health/7783635.stmPublished: 2008/12/16 00:00:04 GMT
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