Blood transfusion service issues 'pre-amber alert' to sustain Christmas supply

Multiple blood donation clinics were cancelled due to Storm Barra and the service has also experienced ongoing challenges with donor availability due to Covid-19. File photo

The Irish Blood Transfusion Service has issued a pre-amber alert in response to a lack of donations, with fears there may not be enough of a supply over the Christmas period.

The alert has been issued in line with the national blood shortage plan which requests conservative use of blood.

Donations are needed to avoid the cancellation of elective surgeries requiring blood support, with 200 patients receiving transfusions in Irish hospitals daily.

Multiple blood donation clinics were cancelled due to Storm Barra last week, and the service has also experienced ongoing challenges with donor availability due to Covid-19.

The national service is urgently looking for donors to 'give the priceless gift of life this Christmas', especially those with the blood group O-, A- and B-. 

“High levels of COVID-19 in the population is impacting on donor availability, resulting in high numbers of cancellations and the IBTS is urgently asking healthy donors to respond to when they receive a text from us” said Barry Doyle, Acting Operations Director.

Extra clinics have been arranged over the Christmas and New Year period, with clinics running on the public holidays December 28 and Monday January 3.

These clinics are especially vital for collecting blood for young babies, who can only receive blood which is no more than 5 days old since collection.

"Donor appointments are booked entirely on the phone with donors being pre-screened before an appointment is made for them to attend the donation clinic, to ensure the safety of our donors and staff,” Mr Doyle added.

More information about giving blood can be found here.