Some blood groups at just two days’ supply, says Irish Blood Transfusion Service

Some 2,000 blood donations are required over the coming weeks as some blood groups have fallen to just two days’ supply, the Irish Blood Transfusion Service (IBTS) has said.

Although the IBTS aims to have seven days’ supply of each blood type at all times, current levels of some types, including O negative and B negative, are at just two days.

O positive, which relates to nearly half the population, is at just over three days supply, the IBTS said.

Last week, a pre-amber alert was issued to all hospitals, restricting issues of O negative blood.

“There has been a consistently high hospital demand for blood since the June bank holiday weekend and we need to boost our collections by nearly 500 donations per week in the above blood groups to meet that demand,” said Paul McKinney, IBTS director of donor services and logistics.

Mr McKinney said summer holiday travel and high sickness levels in the community have also affected donor availability.

Hospitals have been asked to reduce their stock holding to manage the limited blood supply available more effectively across the health service.

“If the IBTS has to issue an ‘amber alert letter’, which is the next escalation level of the blood shortage plan, it would have an immediate implication for hospitals and for elective surgical procedures requiring blood support,” said Mr McKinney.

“We are asking regular donors who are texted over the next few weeks to make an extra effort to attend their nearest clinic, especially in Dublin and Cork where we have clinic availability every week.

“This is vital to address the current increased demand from hospitals. For the longer term, we would also urge donors to consider giving blood if they are eligible before they go on holidays this summer,” he said.