HEALTH WARNING
NHS issues urgent ‘amber alert’ as national blood supplies run dangerously low after cyber attacks
Find out what you need to do to donate blood
THE NHS has put out an urgent 'amber alert' after "a perfect storm" from recent cyber attacks and low donation numbers has seen national blood stocks "drop to unprecedentedly low levels".
NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT) issued a callout to replenish stocks O-negative and O-positive blood, which are running dangerously low.
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It said current national stocks of O-negative blood will last 1.6 days, while overall national stocks of blood across all types will last 4.3 days.
O blood-type is important because it is 'universal' - regardless of a person's blood type, they can receive a transfusion with O blood in most cases.
Blood has a shelf life of 35 days, so stocks need to be continually replenished.
Hospitals need use O-type blood for surgeries and procedures requiring blood, as well as when a person's blood type is not known, according to the NHS.
Read more on the cyber attack
But - to put things in perspective - just 8 per cent of the population have type O-negative, but it makes up for around 16 per cent of hospital orders.
"O-negative and O-positive donors are asked to urgently book and fill appointments at donor centres," it said in an alert issued today.
NHSBT also wrote to hospitals asking them to restrict the use of O blood "to essential cases", using different types "where clinically safe to do so".
"A perfect storm of increased demand of O type blood from hospitals following the recent cyber attack - which has impacted London hospitals - and reduced collections due to high levels of unfilled appointments at donor centres in town and city centres, has caused stocks of blood to drop to unprecedentedly low levels," the NHS warned.
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It issued a previous callout shortly after cyber gang took control of its IT network last month, bringing operations to a halt crippling services such as diagnostic blood testing.
Chief Executive, Dr Jo Farrar, said: "Last month we saw an incredible response from donors who answered our call and filled up our centres, helping us meet the increased demands for blood throughout June.
NHS video explains what it's like to donate blood and save lives
"However, seven weeks on, the need for O negative blood in particular remains critical.
“We urgently need more O group donors to come forward and help boost stocks to treat patients needing treatment."
Hospitals have seen an increased demand for O-negative blood since the cyber attack struck major London hospitals.
"Since the start of the incident in June, those hospitals have needed an additional 1.7 days of O-negative – a 94 per cent increase compared to the same period last year and equating to 170 additional O-negative donations every week," the NHSBT said.
On top of this, it's been harder to top of diminishing blood stocks over the summer months.
Big sporting events can cause a dip in the number of people booking in to donate, as can holidays and travel abroad.
Unexpectedly hot days can also mean that people might not be able to give blood due to a lack of hydration or lower iron levels in their blood.
What is an 'amber alert'?
An amber alert will allow hospitals to:
- Implement their emergency measures to minimise usage;
- Move staff to laboratories to vet the use of all O type blood
- Use patient blood management systems to minimise use of O type blood
Under the measures, hospitals will continue to carry out urgent, emergency or trauma surgery, cancer surgery, transplant surgery and blood transfusions to treat people with long term conditions.
Professor Sir Stephen Powis, NHS National Medical Director, stressed: “Patients should also continue to come forward for care if they need it – by using 999 in a life-threatening emergency or otherwise using 111 on the NHS App, online or by phone for other health concerns.”
Everything to know about giving blood
DONATING blood can be an amazing gift to people who desperately need it for on-going medical treatment or in an emergency.
But who exactly is eligible to provide a donation? Here is all you need to know...
Who can give blood?
Most people are eligible to give blood.
You can donate if you are:
- fit and healthy
- weigh more than 7st 12lbs or 50kg
- are aged between 17 and 66 (or 70 if you have given blood before)
- are over 70 and have given blood in the last two years
Men can donate more often than women can.
How often can I give blood?
Men can give blood every 12 weeks, while women can donate every 16 weeks.
This is because it takes several weeks for all the red blood cells to be replaced in the body.
Over 6,000 people are needed to donate each day to meet the needs of hospitals, and there is a drive for black donors to donate to help black patients with sickle cell disease.
To make an appointment to donate your blood at the nearest centre, click here.
What happens when you give blood?
Appointments to give blood typically last no longer than an hour.
1. Welcome and preparation
You will be given a leaflet to read and 500ml of fluid to drink just before you give blood. You'll be asked to drink it over a five-minute period to help ensure you don't feel faint or nauseous after donating.
2. Health screening
NHS staff will make sure it is safe for you to donate, and that your blood is safe for a patient to receive.
3. Giving blood
Once you are comfortable in a chair, staff examine your arm to find a suitable vein and clean it with antiseptic.
A needle will then be inserted into your arm, which will be used to collect your blood into a blood bag with your unique donor number.
You shouldn't feel any discomfort or pain.
If you do, tell a member of staff.
A scale is then used to weigh the blood you have donated, and stops when you've given 470ml.
This usually takes between five and ten minutes.
The needle is then removed and a dressing is put on your arm.
Meanwhile, NHSBT’s Chief Medical Officer, Dr Gail Miflin, said “Three blood donations are needed every minute in hospitals to deal with emergencies, childbirth and routine treatments.
"Blood only has a shelf life of 35 days so the NHS needs blood all year round.
“There are just under 800,000 regular blood donors, 108,000 of whom are O-negative.
"Ultimately, we need more people to be regular blood donors and come to one of our 25 donor centres.
"Women can donate once every four months and men can donate once every three months.”
NHSBT runs 235 mobile sessions a week in community venues.
On average, there are around 50,000 appointments for blood donations to fill each week.
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NHSBT said there are over 12,000 appointments still to fill in donor centres over the next two weeks.
Register and book an appointment to donate via the GiveBloodNHS app or at www.blood.co.uk