National alert from NHS over blood type shortages

The NHS has issued a national alert as O negative and O positive blood stocks have fallen to “unprecedentedly low levels”, with only 1.6 days worth of O negative blood left. High demand and unfilled donor appointments have created a “critical” situation, the NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT) warns, and an urgent appeal has been launched for more donors. Hospitals have been advised to restrict the use of O blood types to essential cases.