Urgent call for people to donate blood amid concerning nationwide shortage

The Irish Blood Transfusion Service (IBTS) have appealed for an increase in blood donations as the national supply has dropped significantly in recent weeks.

The IBTS has said that in order to maintain the national blood supply over the next month, over 2,000 donations are needed. 

The stock levels of some blood groups such as O negative and B negative are particularly concerning with both having less than three days worth of supply.

Meanwhile, O positive supplies, which relates to almost half of the population of Ireland, has just over two and a half days. Typically, the IBTS would aim to have a seven day supply at all times.

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With this concerning drop in stock, a stock management alert was issued to all hospitals on 13 May. This means that hospitals have been forced to reduce their stock holding and it enables the IBTS to manage the limited supply more effectively. 

If the dwindling supply continues, the IBTS will be forced to issue an 'amber alert' which would have a major impact on the health service and elective surgeries that require blood support. 

According to the IBTS, the good weather and summer holiday season are among the reasons why attendance has dropped at donation clinics across the country. 

To keep up with the demand, around 500 donations per week across the blood groups are needed and so people are being asked to give blood if they can. 

The IBTS have also asked for new donors of African heritage to donate blood in order to help diversify the donor base and get better blood type matches for patients.