The Irish Blood Transfusion Service (IBTS) is appealing to members of the public to donate blood over the coming weeks.

It said it is concerned about its blood supplies during the Christmas and New Year period.

"Traditionally holiday periods and especially the lead into the Christmas/New Year festivities present significant difficulties in sustaining the blood supply. A steady attendance of 3,000 donors per week is needed for the five weeks from Dec 8 to Jan 9," commented IBTS operations director, Paddy Bowler.

However he pointed out that Christmas Day and New Year's Day both fall on a Thursday this year, which is the IBTS's best attendance and blood collection day. As a result, this is expected to have a ‘serious impact' on the blood supply.

"On any given day 200 patients receive transfusions in Irish hospitals. The demand for blood is constant. We supply product 365 days a year and will issue blood for transfusion to hospitals on Christmas Day, St Stephen's Day and New Year's Day, so we are urging donors to give a priceless gift this Christmas, the gift of blood," Mr Bowler said.

Currently, just 3% of the Irish population donates blood and the most common blood group in this country is O positive (47% of the population). Blood is used for a number of treatments and injuries, for example, people undergoing cancer treatment are transfused regularly and a car accident victim may require up to 30 units of blood.

In an effort to deal with the potential shortage of blood in the coming weeks, the IBTS is running additional Saturday and Sunday clinics over the Christmas and New Year period. Clinic details can be viewed here