Blood shortage sparks surge in donors

AFTER giving blood for the first time yesterday, Fionán Coyle urged more people to follow his example.

“I would encourage everybody to give blood, especially young people,” said the 22-year-old Cavan man. “When you start young, it becomes a lifelong habit.”

The third-year psychiatric student took personal action after all pre-planned operations in the country were cancelled due to a blood shortage.

“I had been meaning to do it for quite a while, but I just said I’d get around to it now,” he explained.

“There’s nothing to it - and the staff are all nice in here,” said Fionán, aged 22, from Cavan town, at the Dublin’s D’Olier Street clinic. “There’s nothing really to giving blood.”

Fionán Coyle was among the 200 people who donated blood at the city centre clinic yesterday. Less than 80 donors usually attend the clinic on Fridays.

Each week 3,000 blood donations are needed. Every year at least 70,000 people will need a transfusion.

Bans on who can give blood - arising from the risk of CJD transmission - now exclude 20% of the people who previously could donate.

Non-emergency surgery planned over the next few days had to be cancelled because of the blood donor crisis. However, the IBTS said the situation was under constant review - but there were still blood supplies for emergencies.

A spokesperson for the IBTS acknowledged the good public donor response to its appeal. “Obviously, we would be endeavouring to rescind the request to hospitals to cancel elective surgery as soon as possible.”

Attendance at blood donation clinics since January 2005 dropped by almost 4,000 over the same period in 2004.

Following the appeal, blood donor clinic staff reported a surge in the numbers of people coming forward.

Clinics run by the IBTS in Stillorgan, south Dublin and D’Olier Street in the city centre, Birr in Co Offaly, Cork and Dundalk reported being very busy.

A special extra clinic will be held in D’Olier Street tomorrow from 11am to 4pm. Clinics will also be held tomorrow in Athlone and Dundalk.

Information: Callsave 1850 731 137 and www.ibts.ie