Blood supply shortage prompts amber warning

Blood supplies in England have dropped to a critically low level, which has prompted NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT) to declare its firs amber alert.

The shortage, which is thought to be behind a lack of staff to care for people giving blood, means that hospitals may have to postpone some elective surgery, but emergency care will not be affected.

Overall blood stocks in the NHS stand at 3.1 days, but levels of O type blood have dropped to below two days.

Wendy Clark from NHSBT, said asking hospitals to limit their use of blood was “not a step we take lightly”.

She added “This is a vital measure to protect patients who need blood the most.

“If you are O Positive or O Negative in particular, please make an appointment to give blood as soon as you can. If you already have an appointment, please keep it.”

According to NHSBT, supplies of blood have been a challenge since the pandemic due to staff sickness, staff shortages and a change in people’s behaviour, meaning they are less likely to visit donation centres in towns and cities.

Staff are being recruited to fill vacant positions and open up more appointments, and agency staff are also being sought.

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Posted by Karen Motley, Clinical Negligence Department, Chadwick Lawrence LLP (tonymay@chadlaw.co.uk ), medical negligence lawyers and clinical negligence solicitors in Huddersfield, Leeds, Wakefield and Halifax, West Yorkshire.

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