NHS issues urgent ‘amber alert’ as national blood supplies run dangerously low after cyber attacks

The NHS has issued an urgent ‘amber alert’ due to low national blood stocks, following recent cyber attacks and a decrease in donations. The stocks for O-negative and O-positive blood are particularly low, but this blood type is essential as it can be given to anyone needing a transfusion. The demands for O-negative blood have grown due to the cyber attacks, which closed many donor centres, but unfilled appointments have also been blamed for the shortages. The NHS has called for more donors to come forward.