The English National Health Service agency responsible for collecting blood has declared its first “amber alert” due to critically low supplies.
“NHS Blood and Transplant aims to hold above six days of blood stocks, however levels are currently predicted to fall below two days which is the threshold for an amber alert,” NHS Blood and Transplant said in a statement on Tuesday.
O-blood groups are especially needed, with NHS Blood and Transplant calling on donors to make appointments. O-negative blood is the universal blood type that can be given to anyone.
“Maintaining blood stocks has been an ongoing challenge in the aftermath of the pandemic primarily due to staff shortages and sickness but also due to a change in donor behaviour as people are less likely to visit collection centres in towns and cities,” NHS Blood and Transplant said.
Hospitals are being asked to take measures to protect blood supplies, which could mean postponing some non-urgent elective surgeries. They will continue to provide any urgent, emergency or trauma surgery, transplant surgery, cancer surgery and blood transfusions for people with long-term conditions.
“Asking hospitals to limit their use of blood is not a step we take lightly. This is a vital measure to protect patients who need blood the most,” said Wendy Clark, Interim Chief Executive of NHS Blood and Transplant. The service, established in its current form in 2005, relies entirely on voluntary blood donations.
“With the support of hospitals and the measures we are taking to scale up collection capacity, we hope to be able to build stocks back to a more sustainable footing,” she said.
