NHS issues ‘amber alert’ as national blood shortage hits ‘perfect storm’

The NHS has issued an ‘amber alert’ urging for blood donors after supplies of O-type blood fell to an ‘unprecedentedly’ low level due to increased hospital demand and a drop in donors. The NHSBT department asked hospitals to use O-type blood in essential cases only and use substitutes if safe. The public, particularly in Birmingham, are urged to donate blood, as national stocks of O Negative are 1.6 days and overall stocks are 4.3 days.