Blood supplies resume to hospitals

HOSPITALS have been advised by the Irish Blood Transfusion Service that it is in a position to meet demand for blood.

Last Thursday, the IBTS asked hospitals to cancel non-urgent surgery planned for the following four to five days due to a severe blood shortage.

It was the first time in more than three years that the blood bank had to appeal to hospitals to postpone elective surgery because of a shortage of blood. The appeal also drew a strong response from blood donors with 2,600 turning up at its centres on Thursday, Friday and Sunday.