Donations plea as blood stocks run low

More than 13,000 blood donations are needed to maintain stocks over Christmas, the Irish Blood Transfusion Service said today.

A special campaign has been launched by the service to replace vital blood levels, which are running low.

Some 3,000 blood donations are needed every week in Ireland.

“Our stocks are down at four and a half days, just a little bit too low for this time of the year,” said Paddy Bowler, director of operations.

“What’s caused this is an increase in demand from the hospitals through October and November, a 10% increase in October and a further 6% in November.

“Traditionally we would like 10 days of stock coming in to the Christmas and new-year period.”