For the second time this year, the Irish Blood Transfusion Service (IBTS) has had to import a consignment of blood from the UK, due to a shortage in the blood supply here.

Some 210 units of Rh negative blood groups (O negative, A negative and B negative), as well as 200 units of A positive, are being imported from the NHS Blood and Transfusion (NHSBT) service.

“IBTS is again activating our contingency arrangement with NHSBT in England to supplement blood stocks and avoid raising an alert under the Irish national blood shortage plan, which could have a serious impact on patient care,” explained IBTS medical and scientific director, Prof Stephen Field.

He said that in recent weeks, appointment cancellations and the high level of Covid-19 circulating in the community has made it difficult to fill all donation appointments.

“This means that for the last number of weeks we have been issuing more blood to hospitals than we have been able to collect. This trend is being encountered by most blood services internationally,” he noted.

In addition to importing blood from NHSBT, IBTS is urging members of the public to maintain the blood supply over the winter months.

“Since moving to an appointment based system at the start of the pandemic, donors have been incredible in their support. However, it has been increasingly difficult to keep the blood supply at the level we need to see us through Christmas and New Year. Storm Barra resulted in a number of clinics being cancelled and that cost us approximately 300 donations,” Prof Field said.

He pointed out that stocks of the main Rh negative blood groups are under “particular pressure”, especially O negative – the universal blood group that is always in demand.

IBTS needs to collect 3,000 units of blood every week to maintain the national blood supply, however, just 3% of the population are blood donors.

For more information on iBTS, visit giveblood.ie.