IBTS publishes 2011 Annual Report - 146,539 blood donations collected in 2011

The IBTS today published its annual report for 2011.  IBTS Chief Executive Andy Kelly said that the drop of just over 5000 blood donations collected in 2011 over 2010 reflected IBTS efforts to improve blood stock management, thereby maximising the use of the donors’ gift and reducing costs to the HSE. He also thanked donors whose loyalty to patient care enables the IBTS to provide blood and blood components when it is needed.  “The IBTS has undertaken a significant review of all activities to achieve cost savings without diminishing services to donors and patients.  This work is ongoing and will continue to generate savings to the HSE.  The blood supply is currently at 4 days but there is an ongoing need for O negative and O positive donors to come forward to bring the blood supply up to a sustainable level over the coming weeks.

Medical & Scientific Director Dr Ian Franklin said that the IBTS has been working with the HSE and consultant colleagues throughout the country to improve practices in platelets transfusion. “For some years now, Ireland has had one of the lowest usage rates of red cells in the EU developed economies.  This is a good thing and shows that medical staff give serious thought to when a transfusion should be given and just as important, when it is not essential. Platelet use however, has been relatively high.  The recently formed National Transfusion Committee should help to strengthen existing initiatives to reduce platelet usage while ensuring that patients receive all necessary blood components.”

Some statistics in brief

  • In 2011, 87,849 donors gave 146,539 units of blood – this is a drop of approximately 4% on 2010.
  • The gender breakdown between those donors is 48,648 males and 39,201 females
  • Just over 17% of donors are aged between 25 and 31
  • The next most common age group is 46 to 52 at 16.84%
  • In 2011, 41 Irish patients received stem cells from an unrelated donor.  34 stem cell donations were sourced from Europe, including 8 from Ireland and 7 from outside the EU.   3 stem cell donations and one lymphocyte donation were collected in Ireland and used for overseas patients

 http://www.giveblood.ie/About_Us/Publications_Guidelines/Annual_Reports/

ENDS

For further information contact:  Mirenda O’Donovan at mirenda.odonovan@ibts.ie