Blood stocks drop to ‘unprecedentedly low levels’ in England

The NHS has asked for urgent blood donations due to a significant drop in stocks, particularly of O-type; O negative blood is known as the universal blood type as it can be given to all patients. The decline followed a series of unfilled appointments and increased demand after a summer cyber attack. To preserve existing supplies, an amber alert has been issued, calling for the use of O-type blood only in essential cases where an alternative is not safe.