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The agency that operates Canada’s blood donor clinics is planning to make it easier for older donors to give blood.

Canadian Blood Services says it will introduce changes this fall to lift some eligibility restrictions for new and dedicated donors who are over the age of 61.

READ MORE: 5 things to know about donating blood

The changes include dropping a requirement that all first-time donors 61 years of age and older must submit a doctor’s letter confirming they are fit to give blood.

As well, the agency says it will scrap the same requirement for repeat donors between the ages of 67 and 71 who have not donated in the past two years – as well as repeat donors 71 and over who are currently required to get an assessment every year.

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Canadian Blood Services says the doctor letters for older donors aren’t needed because staff at clinics already ask several health questions.

Spokesman Mark Donnison says there are about 420,000 donors in Canada at any given time, but new donors are always needed.

He says that on average about 170,000 donors drop out every year, either because they have to, or they choose to stop.