London (Parliament Politics Magzine) – An urgent request for Londoners to donate blood has been undertaken amid a “perfect storm” concerning blood stocks.
Why is there an urgent need for O-negative blood?
NHS Blood and Transplant expressed O Negative blood types were particularly required – and administered an ‘amber alert’ to hospitals requesting them to restrict the use of that blood type where safe to do so. The O-negative blood type is understood as the universal blood type, meaning it is required in emergencies or when a patient’s blood type is anonymous.
How has the cyberattack impacted blood stocks in London?
Increased need for O-type blood from hospitals following a crippling cyber attack which impacted major London hospitals and unfilled assignments has caused stocks of blood to drop to “unprecedentedly low levels”. An NHS spokesperson stated national stocks of O Negative blood were just 1.6 days and overall national stocks of blood across all types were 4.3 days.
NHSBT Chief Executive Dr Jo Farrar stated: “We urgently need more O group donors in London to come forward and help boost stocks to treat patients needing treatment. Last month we saw an incredible response from donors who answered our call and filled up our centres, helping us meet the increased demands for blood throughout June. However, seven weeks on, the need for O-negative blood in particular remains critical.”
How has donor availability been affected by holidays and travel?
On average, there are approximately 50,000 blood donor positions to fill each week. But there are around 12,000 appointments still to serve in donor centres across England over the next two weeks including 5,000 across London donor centres. About eight per cent of the population have Type O Negative blood, but it accounts for about sixteen per cent of hospital orders.
What role did the Synnovis cyberattack play in the current shortage?
The cyber invasion in June on pathology services provider Synnovis by the Russian cyber gang Qilin provoked thousands of appointments to be withdrawn or postponed across the two most affected trusts, King’s College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust and Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust.
How often does the NHS require blood donations to meet demand?
Stocks are also inferior on average in summer because holidays and travel abroad can lower people’s availability, while suddenly hot days can see an increase in people incapable of giving blood due to a shortage of hydration or lower iron levels.
NHSBT’s Chief Medical Officer, Dr Gail Miflin, stated: “Three blood donations are required every minute in hospitals to deal with emergencies, childbirth and routine medicines. Blood only has a shelf life of 35 days so the NHS requires blood all year round. Officials emphasised that despite the low availability, hospitals will persist in carrying out urgent, emergency or trauma surgery, cancer surgery, transplant surgery and blood transfusions to minister to people with long-term conditions.