IBTS concerned about blood supply for Christmas and New Year

3rd December 2017

The IBTS is concerned that blood supplies will be difficult leading in to and over the Christmas/New Year period and is urging donors to make a special effort to give blood in the weeks leading up to Christmas.

During this time, the IBTS needs more than 15,000 attendances from December 4th to January 7th to maintain the blood supply.

“Traditionally holiday periods and especially the lead into the Christmas/New Year festivities present significant challenges  in sustaining the blood supply. On any given day 200 patients receive transfusions in Irish hospitals”, said Operations Director, Paul McKinney.

“Christmas day and New Years Day both fall on a Monday, which is an important collection day, especially  collecting blood for babies and could have a serious impact on the blood supply. We are running additional clinics in the weeks before Christmas and 4 special clinics on Saturday 23rd December, to make sure there is blood available for patients over this period.

“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.”

Clinic details can be obtained on www.giveblood.ie.

ENDS

Note to Editor - Some facts about blood

Blood lasts just 35 days
Blood for new borns must be less than 5 days old
Donors with O negative blood are known as universal donors
We need 3,000 blood donations a week to keep hospitals supplied