The NHS has issued a rare national alert as blood stocks, particularly types O negative and O positive, have plunged to dangerously low levels. This marks only the second time such an alert has been declared, the first being in October 2022.
Due to rising hospital demands and a significant number of unfilled donation appointments, stocks for O negative have dwindled to just 1.6 days’ worth of supply, significantly below the safe threshold. Overall, the national blood stockpile stands at a mere 4.3 days.
In response, NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT) has issued an “amber alert” to hospitals, advising them to conserve blood by limiting the use of type O and employing alternative types where possible. Hospitals are also being urged to implement emergency measures to manage and reduce the usage of blood, particularly type O.
The situation has been exacerbated by a recent cyber incident affecting several London hospitals, which has led to a 94% spike in demand for O-negative blood compared to the previous year.
Dr. Jo Farrar, Chief Executive of NHSBT, stated, “The need for blood is constant, but the current levels are critically low, especially for O negative, which is crucial for emergencies. We are appealing to existing and new donors to book appointments urgently.
NHSBT has made an additional 1,000 donor appointments available weekly and is calling on donors to fill up to 45,000 available slots by September. O-negative blood is particularly vital as it can be used in emergencies where the patient’s blood type is unknown.
To address the ongoing crisis, NHSBT encourages potential donors to book appointments at their permanent centres or via mobile collection units.
Dr. Gail Miflin, Chief Medical Officer at NHSBT, emphasized the continuous need for blood, which has a limited shelf life of 35 days. “We need to collect 1.45 million units of blood annually and require up to 200,000 new donors each year to keep up with demand and maintain a healthy stock level,” she noted.
Those interested in donating can contact NHSBT at 0300 123 23 23 or visit www.blood.co.uk to schedule an appointment.
