The NHS is encouraging people to continue donating blood following a cyber attack that disrupted operations at major hospitals In London.
The cyber gang took control of the IT network, paralyzing services such as diagnostic blood tests.
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Brits with blood type O are asked to book appointments to donate as it is safe for all patients.
It comes after several London hospitals declared a critical incident, canceled operations and scans and were unable to carry out blood transfusions this week following the attack on pathology firm Synnovis.
Qilin, a Russian cyber criminal group, is believed to be behind the attack, which affected King’s College Hospital, Guy’s and St Thomas’, Royal Brompton and Evelina London Children’s Hospital, and primary care services.
O NECESSARY BLOOD
NHS Blood and Transplant is now appealing to all O-Positive and O-Negative donors to book appointments at one of London’s 25 NHS donor centers to build up stocks.
The NHS has said hospitals need to use type O blood for surgeries and procedures that require blood as it is safe for all patients.
Blood has a shelf life of 35 days, so supplies need to be continually replenished.
To support London hospitals in carrying out more surgeries and to provide the best possible care to all patients, we need more O-negative and O-positive donors than usual.
Dr. Gail Miflin
This means that more units of these blood types than usual will be needed in the coming weeks.
O-negative is the type that can be given to anyone, known as universal blood type.
It is used in emergencies or when the patient’s blood type is unknown.
Air ambulances and emergency response vehicles carry O-negative supplies.
Additionally, shares are down following the May bank holidays and the recent half year.
Only 8% of the population has type O negative, but it represents around 15% of hospital requests.
Positive is the most common blood type, 35% of donors have it and it can be administered to anyone with any positive blood type.
This means that three out of every four people, or 76 percent of the population, can benefit from an O-positive donation.
‘MAKE AN URGENT APPOINTMENT’
Gail Miflin, medical director of NHS Blood and Transplant, said: “To support London hospitals in carrying out more surgeries and to provide the best possible care for all patients, we need more O-negative and O-positive donors than the usual.
“Please make an urgent appointment to donate blood at one of our 25 municipal donor centers, which currently have good booking availability.
“We are available for donors who know they are type O, but we also welcome new donors who do not yet know their blood type.
“You might have one of those special types that can be used in emergencies.”
Professor Stephen Powis, medical director for NHS England, said: “NHS staff continue to go above and beyond to minimize significant disruption to patients following the ransomware cyber attack on Synnovis earlier this week.
“Urgent and emergency services are available as normal, so patients should access services as normal by calling 999 in an emergency and using NHS 111 via the NHS app, online or by phone.
“But unfortunately, we know that a number of operations and appointments have been postponed or diverted to other neighboring hospitals not impacted by the cyber attack, as we prioritized pathology services for the most clinically urgent cases.
“To help the London team support and treat more patients, they need access to O-Negative and O-Positive blood, so if either of these is your blood type, come in for one of the 13,000 appointments currently available at the Health Centers. NHS Blood Donors. .”
For more information or to make an appointment to donate blood at your nearest center, click here.
Everything you need to know about donating blood
DONATING blood can be an incredible gift for people who desperately need it for ongoing medical treatment or in an emergency.
But who exactly is eligible to make a donation? Here’s everything you need to know…
Who can donate blood?
Most people are eligible to donate blood.
You can donate if you are:
- fit and healthy
- weigh more than 7st 12 pounds or 50 kg
- are between 17 and 66 years old (or 70 if you have donated blood before)
- are over 70 years old and have donated blood in the last two years
Men may donate more frequently than women.
How often can I donate blood?
Men can donate 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.
More than 6,000 people are needed to donate every day to meet the needs of hospitals, and there is a campaign to black donors to donate to help black patients with sickle cell disease.
To make an appointment to donate your blood at your nearest center, click here.
What happens when you donate blood?
Appointments to donate blood usually last no more than an hour.
1. Welcome and preparation
You will be given a leaflet to read and 500ml of liquid to drink before donating blood. You will be asked to drink over a five-minute period to help ensure you do not feel faint or nauseous after donating.
2. Health checks
NHS staff will ensure it is safe for you to donate and that your blood is safe for a patient to receive.
3. Donate blood
Once you are comfortable in a chair, the staff will 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 should not feel any discomfort or pain.
If you do this, tell a team member.
A scale is then used to weigh the blood you have donated and stops when you have donated 470ml.
This usually takes between five and ten minutes.
The needle is then removed and a bandage is placed on the arm.
This story originally appeared on The-sun.com read the full story
