The Wellington mobile donor centre will be open from 9.40am to 2.50pm at the rear of the Coles car park in Swift Street.

Last week the service reported it needed 10 more donors at the visit to met hospital demand.

People can call 13 14 95 or visit donateblood.com.au to make an appointment.

The visit comes as the service launches a year-long campaign to attract an extra 115,000 new blood donors during 2016 - some of whom they hope will come from Wellington.

The service needs to bolster its donor ranks now to help combat seasonal donor shortages around long-weekends and cold and flu outbreaks throughout the year. An estimated nine million Australians are eligible to give blood but only 500,000 actively do so leading the Blood Service to reach out to those who have never donated before.

Blood Service spokeswoman Erin Lagoudakis said it was time for the remaining 8.5 million Aussies to help out.

“Blood donation has been a proud Australian tradition for 87 years and was born out of a need for lifesaving transfusions,” Ms Lagoudakis said.

“The delivery of blood was time critical, and despite many advances that is still the case today, with some critical components unable to be stored longer than one week.

“Because there are times when donor numbers are traditionally low, such as long-weekends and cold and flu outbreaks, we need additional donors to come on board between now and the end of the year to continue helping the one in three Australians who will need donated blood in their lifetime.”

Ms Lagoudakis said common tragedies such as cancer diagnoses, road trauma and blood loss during childbirth were among the regular uses of blood.

“To ensure blood is there when you or a love one needs it, we need more people to sign-up as blood donors,” she said.

“If more people give blood, then it’s more likely to be there when you or a loved one needs it later.”