First-ever amber alert issued by NHS Blood and Transplant over blood supplies as they fall critically low (on 12.10.22).
Why?
Blood supplies have fallen critically low, forcing the NHS department that manages donations to declare its first-ever amber alert status.
https://www.blood.co.uk/news-and-campaigns/news-and-statements/amber-alert-issued-on-blood-stocks-existing-o-neg-and-o-pos-donors-asked-to-make-appointments/
What
NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT) said overall blood stocks in the health service stood at 3.1 days, but levels of O type blood – an especially important type, as it can be given to anyone – have fallen to below two days. It aims to hold more than six days of blood in stock.
Blood can only be stored for 35 days, which means there is a constant need for donations – and a need for specific blood types.
Like everywhere else in the NHS, staff shortages are having a huge impact on the transfusion service. It means fewer donors and fewer trained staff to take and process blood.
How has this occurred? Its probably a combination of NHSBT reducing their stock as surgical techniques have improved (e.g. keyhole surgery) so less blood needs to be stored; combined with saving money by reducing the number of ‘blood vans’ that come to people’s workplaces to make it easier to donate blood. In other words, with better planning this situation could have been avoided.
How (does it affect you)?
It could. Hospitals have been told to protect their supplies, meaning non-urgent operations requiring blood could be postponed to ensure they are prioritised for patients who need them most.
That means the seven million-strong waiting list will grow even longer.
Did you know?
NHS Blood and Transplant provides blood for England only, as it is part of NHS England. The 3 nations of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have their own services. Maybe NHS Blood and Transplant (and NHS England) should ask them for advice 🙂
Other resource
There is more information on this issue on Sky News here, from which this article is partly based.
As always, best wishes from myHSN!
