The NHS has issued an urgent ‘amber alert’ after “a perfect storm” caused by recent cyber attacks and low numbers of donations caused national blood stocks to “fall to unprecedented levels”.
NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT) has issued an appeal to replenish O-negative and O-positive blood supplies, which are dangerously low.
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He said current national stocks of O-negative blood will last 1.6 days, while overall national stocks of blood for all types will last 4.3 days.
Blood type O 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 supplies need to be continually replenished.
Hospitals need to use type O blood for surgeries and procedures that require blood, as well as when a person’s blood type is not known, according to the NHS.
But – to put things into perspective – only 8% of the population has the O-negative type, but that represents around 16% of hospital claims.
“O-negative and O-positive donors are asked to urgently book and complete appointments at donor centers,” he said in an alert issued today.
The NHSBT has also written to hospitals asking them to restrict the use of O blood “to essential cases”, using different types “when it is clinically safe to do so”.
“A perfect storm of increased demand for type O blood from hospitals following the recent cyber attack – which impacted London hospitals – and reduced collections due to high levels of unfilled appointments at city center donor centers , caused blood reserves to rise to unprecedented levels,” warned the NHS.
It issued an earlier warning shortly after a cyber gang took control of its IT network last month, crippling operations, crippling services such as diagnostic blood tests.
Chief Executive, Dr Jo Farrar, said: “Last month we saw an incredible response from donors who responded to our appeal and filled our centres, helping us meet the growing demand for blood throughout June.
“However, seven weeks later, the need for O-negative blood, in particular, remains critical.
“We urgently need more group O donors to come forward and help build stocks to treat patients in need of treatment.”
Hospitals have seen an increase in demand for O-negative blood since the cyber attack hit major London hospitals.
“Since the incident began in June, these hospitals have required an additional 1.7 days of O-negative – a 94 percent increase compared to the same period last year and equating to 170 additional O-negative donations every weeks,” NHSBT said. he said.
Additionally, it has been more difficult to overcome the decrease in blood supplies during the summer months.
Big sporting events can cause a drop in the number of people booking to donate, as can holidays and trips abroad.
Unexpectedly hot days can also mean that people may be unable to donate blood due to lack of hydration or reduced blood iron levels.
What is an ‘Amber Alert’?
An amber alert will allow hospitals to:
- Implement your emergency measures to minimize usage;
- Transfer employees to laboratories to verify the use of all blood types
- Use patient blood management systems to minimize the use of type O blood
According to the measures, hospitals will continue to perform urgent, emergency or trauma surgeries, oncological surgeries, transplant surgeries and blood transfusions to treat people with long-term illnesses.
Professor Sir Stephen Powis, NHS National Medical Director, emphasized: “Patients should also continue to seek care if they need it – using 999 in a life-threatening emergency or using 111 on the NHS app, online or by phone to other health problems.”
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 the ages of 17 and 66 (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.
Meanwhile, NHSBT Medical Director Dr Gail Miflin said “Three blood donations are needed every minute in hospitals to deal with emergencies, births and routine treatments.
“Blood is only valid for 35 days, so the NHS needs blood all year round.
“There are just under 800,000 regular blood donors, 108,000 of which are O-negative.
“Ultimately, we need more people to be regular blood donors and come to one of our 25 donor centers.
“Women can donate once every four months and men can donate once every three months.”
NHSBT runs 235 mobile sessions a week in community locations.
On average, there are around 50,000 blood donation appointments to be filled each week.
NHSBT said there are still more than 12,000 appointments to fill at donor centers throughout the year. next two weeks.
Sign up and make an appointment to donate through the GiveBloodNHS app or at www.blood.co.uk
This story originally appeared on The-sun.com read the full story
