Service faces ‘challenge’ for blood donations

The Irish Blood Transfusion Service (IBTS) faces a “significant challenge” to increase blood donations in the coming months, according to chief executive Andy Kelly.

New figures released by the IBTS yesterday show that more than 5,000 fewer donations were collected in 2012 than during the previous year.

This was largely down to temporary changes in the management of blood haemoglobin levels which saw up to 25% of potential donors excluded at certain times of the year.