The NHS is urgently appealing for blood donations as supplies have fallen to a critically low level in the UK.
For the first time ever, reduced blood supplies have prompted health officials to issue an amber alert warning, which could result in postponed medical operations. NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT) has said that stocks have fallen to just three days worth, despite aiming to consistently have six days worth in stock.
O-type blood supplies have been most affected, with stocks dropping to below two days. O-type blood is the most common type in people, meaning it is in high demand.
O-Negative is known as a universal blood type, as it can be administered to anyone. It is vital in emergency medical situations as it can be given when an injured person's blood type is unknown.
Non-urgent operations requiring blood may now be postponed to ensure stock is reserved for patients who need it the most.
It's believed that ongoing staffing issues are partially to blame for the amber alert, but NHSBT is also asking for certain people to give blood as soon as possible.
Here's where you can donate blood and who is eligible, as reported by the Mirror.
Where can you donate blood?
You can donate blood at one of the NHS Blood and Transplant centres or local venues across the UK.
According to the charity Scot Blood, there are six permanent blood donation centres in Scotland in Aberdeen, Dundee, Glasgow, Edinburgh Inverness and Livingston.
There are a further 25 in England and you can search for the blood donation venue nearest to you on the Give Blood website.
Donors in Wales can find donation centres on the Welsh Blood Service website and Northern Irish donors can search for their nearest one on the Northern Ireland Blood Transfusion Service website.
Once you've selected your location you can book your blood donation appointment online.
Who is eligible to give blood?
While people of all blood types can donate blood, the NHSBT is currently calling for people who have O-Positive or O-Negative blood to donate.
Wendy Clark from NHSBT said: "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."
To be eligible to give blood you'll need to be able to meet some criteria, these include:
- Being generally fit and well
- Aged between 17 and 65
- Weighing between 7 stone 12lbs and 25 stone
- Having suitable veins (checked before you donate).
There are also some reasons why you may be prohibited from giving blood, these including if you:
- Have had cancer
- Have some heart conditions
- Received blood, platelets, plasma or any other blood products after 1 January 1980
- Are HIV positive
- Have had an organ transplant
- Are a carrier of hepatitis B or C
- Have injected non-prescribed drugs, including body-building or tanning injections.
As well as this, some people will need to wait before they can give blood. This includes if you:
- Have had anal sex with a new partner in the last three months
- Finished taking Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) or Post-Exposure Prophylaxis (PEP) in the last three months
- Have had sexual contact with a partner who is HIV positive, HTLV positive, a hepatitis B or C carrier, syphilis positive, has received money or drugs for sex, has injected non-prescribed drugs in the last three months
- Feel ill
- Are pregnant or have had a baby in the last six months
- Recently got a tattoo or piercing
- Are undergoing assessment for a medical condition
- Have travelled to or from certain countries outside the UK
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