A blood shortage in hospitals in England has lead to fears that supplies needed to carry out operations may run out. According to reports, supplies of the common O blood types are down to less than three days’ worth leaving the NHS supply network on the brink.
It has been revealed that NHS Blood and Transplant has already written to hospitals asking them not to over-order supplies. Meanwhile the Health Service Journal reports that the system is in “crisis mode” and that hospitals are planning for if the situation gets worse.
If supplies drop to two days, NHSBT will trigger an 'amber alert' which could lead to hospitals having to cancel planned operations, reports the Mirror. The news comes after the Mirror launched a campaign to help NHSBT recruit the 75,000 regular blood donors it is short of as the health service recovers from the pandemic.
Read more: 'I gave blood for the first time - it was so easy I can't believe I haven't done it before'
An NHSBT spokesman said: "Currently, we are continuing to supply hospitals with all the blood they need. Blood stocks have fallen but we are doing everything we can to prevent issuing an amber alert.
"We are experiencing staff shortages at many of our donor centres and mobile teams which has left our operations vulnerable from increases in short-term sickness. This has unfortunately led to some appointments being cancelled. To address this we are redeploying staff from elsewhere in NHSBT, using agency staff and contacting ex-employees.
"We have also increased our marketing activity to attract donors to give blood in town and city centre donor centres which have good appointment availability. We are expecting a difficult few months, and will continue to work with hospitals to manage blood stocks.
"While many sessions held in community venues such as church halls are full, the blood donor centres in cities currently have unfilled appointments, So we urgently need more people to make appointments to give blood at our 25 permanent donor centres."
During the peak of the pandemic, hospital demand for blood fell as planned operations were put on hold. But demand is now back to pre-pandemic levels.
Also, providing fresh blood of the correct type is a complex process. For a start it can only be stored for 35 days and there is a constant need for donations for specific blood types.
The NHSBT appointment system has to carefully balance the supply of blood with the changing demand from patients and hospitals. Collecting too much and the wrong type would mean life-saving blood is wasted and hospitals may not have the right type available for patients when they need it.
Around three quarters of a million selfless donors kept hospitals in stock at the height of the Covid-19 crisis - but this was 40,000 fewer regular donors than the year before. A spokesman for NHSBT added: “If you are one of our amazing regular donors please make and keep an appointment.
“If you have never donated before, now is a great time to make your first donation. You will be helping the NHS at an important time. Every appointment counts.”
Register as a blood donor today and play your part in the NHS recovery. Patients need blood all year around and the NHS needs to ensure a steady supply.
In some areas of the country there are limited appointments for first time donors so if you cannot find a slot straight away please search a few weeks or months ahead. Visit www.blood.co.uk or call 0300 123 23 23 to register and start saving lives.
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