The NHS has declared its first ever amber alert over blood supplies after they fell to a critically low level, prompting warnings that hospitals in England may be forced to cancel operations to protect their stocks.
An NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT) official confirmed that overall blood stocks in NHS England were at three days’ worth and levels of O-type had dropped to less than two days’. The normal standard is to hold at least six days’ worth of blood in stock at all times.
O negative blood is the universal type that can be given to all patients. It is vital during emergencies and when the blood type of the recipient is unknown.
On Wednesday, hospitals were ordered to implement plans to protect their supplies, meaning non-urgent operations requiring blood may be postponed to ensure stocks are prioritised for patients who need them most.
“Asking hospitals to limit their use of blood is not a step we take lightly,” said Wendy Clark, the interim chief executive of NHSBT. “This is a vital measure to protect patients who need blood the most. Patients are our focus. I sincerely apologise to those patients who may see their surgery postponed because of this.”
Maintaining blood stocks has been a major challenge in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic, primarily due to staff shortages and sickness but also due to a change in donor behaviour as people are less likely to visit collection centres in towns and cities.
Existing O negative and O positive donors are now being asked to book in at blood donor centres to give blood. People from other blood groups are also being asked to keep their appointments.
Following news of the amber alert, the blood donor website became very busy, with people placed in a queue. Phone lines run by NHSBT also saw an increase in calls.
However, the Guardian understands that most donor sessions are full, and the key problem is a shortage of staff available to take blood from members of the public.
Health chiefs are scrambling to shift more NHS workers to the frontline to facilitate more appointments, as well as accelerating efforts to fill vacant posts and retain staff.
Blood can only be stored for 35 days. It means there is a constant need for donations – and a need for specific blood types. About one in seven people have O negative blood, which is carried by air ambulances and emergency response vehicles for emergencies.
The amber alert will last initially for four weeks, which NHSBT said should enable blood stocks to be rebuilt.
“With the support of hospitals and the measures we are taking to scale up collection capacity, we hope to be able to build stocks back to a more sustainable footing,” said Clark.
“We cannot do this without our amazing donors. If you are O positive or O negative in particular, please make an appointment to give blood as soon as you can. If you already have an appointment, please keep it.”
Hospitals will continue to carry out urgent, emergency or trauma surgery, cancer surgery and transplant surgery.
Prof Cheng-Hock Toh, the chair of the National Blood Transfusion Committee, said: “I know that all hospital transfusion services, up and down the country, are working flat out to ensure that blood will be available for emergencies and urgent surgeries.
“We will continue to work closely and collaboratively with NHSBT and with surgeons and anaesthetists, in particular, to minimise any inconvenience and problems to patients.”
