Scots are being asked to ‘urgently book’ an appointment.
A rare amber alert has been issued in Scotland for blood donors.(Image: Getty Images)
An amber alert has been issued in Scotland as the NHS has stated that blood stocks have dropped to “unprecedented low levels”. As a result, all donors from across Scotland are being asked to “urgently book” an appointment.
The Scottish National Blood Transfusion Service (SNBTS) shared with hospitals across Scotland that the amber alert had been put into place at 9am on Tuesday, November 10. This is the first time an amber alert has been issued in Scotland.
This alert is said to be a result of a shortage of blood donors in Scotland and an increase in use of Group O over the last few months. Sessions have also been disrupted due to staffing and bad weather.
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Sharing the alert on Facebook, NHS 24 wrote: “The Scottish National Blood Transfusion Service (SNBTS) has written to hospitals across Scotland to issue an ‘Amber Alert.’ This is due to a national blood shortage. There is specific pressure on group O blood stock levels and a national shortage of blood donors.
“All donors, but particularly O negative and O positive donors, are asked to urgently book and fill appointments across Scotland in the coming days, weeks and months.”
The alert means that hospitals will only be able to use Type O blood when it is essential and will need to maximise the use of alternatives for transfusions where possible.
The SNBTS states that it aims to always retain a five to seven days supply of all blood groups, but Group O blood has fallen below two days on several occasions recently. This comes as only 85 per cent of donor appointments are filled on average each week.
Dr Lorna McLintock, medical director at SNBTS, said: “To supply hospitals with the 135,000 units of blood they need each year to treat patients, appointments need to be fully booked all year round.
“The winter months can be particularly challenging due to the weather, illness and people enjoying the holiday season. Blood donors are asked to book appointments over the coming days, weeks and months in order to maintain Scotland’s blood stocks.”
Where can Scots book to donate blood?
Scots can book to donate blood through the ScotBlood website or by calling 0345 90 90 999. The donation will be made at one of the five permanent blood donor centres in Scotland – Aberdeen, Dundee, Edinburgh, Glasgow and Inverness.
There are also a number of donor days taking place throughout Scotland over the year. These can be found on the ScotBlood website, where donors can search for their nearest location to find out dates.
For example, for Glasgow an upcoming session is available on Friday, November 20 at The Albany Learning Centre on Ashley Street Woodlands.
Who can donate blood?
You can give blood in Scotland from your 17th birthday, with new blood donors able to sign up until they are 66-years-old. However, if you have already given blood before, you can do so until your 72nd birthday. To give blood you must also weigh over 7 stone 12lb (50kg).
On the day you give blood you should be in good health, however there are some things to consider. If you have a cold you must wait until you are feeling better, meanwhile you need to be fully recovered for two weeks or more if you’ve had mumps, measles, chickenpox or shingles.
However, you must never give blood if:
- you are HIV positive or receiving treatment for HIV
- you are HTLV positive
- you are a Hepatitis B carrier
- you are a Hepatitis C carrier
- you have ever been treated for Syphilis
- you have ever injected, or been injected with, drugs; even a long time ago or only once. This applies to any illicit injected drug, including body-building drugs, chemsex drugs and tanning agents.
- you have ever had sex with someone who has previously had a viral haemorrhagic fever (eg Ebola, Marburg, Lassa, or Crimean-Congo fever)
- if you think you need a test for HIV/AIDS, HTLV or Hepatitis
Additionally, you are unable to give blood if you are pregnant or if you have received a blood transfusion since January 1, 1980.
Those on weight loss injections can also give blood as long as it has been prescribed in the UK and the equipment isn’t shared. You also must not be experiencing any adverse side effects such as severe nausea or vomiting.
More information can be found on the ScotBlood website where Scots can also take part in a quiz to find out if they are eligible.