THE Irish Blood Transfusion Service has organised a clinic in County Clare next week.

The clinic comes at a challenging time for the service with RTE reporting that supplies of certain blood types are “critically” low and a pre-amber alert has been issued to hospitals as IBTS appeals for donors.

One in four of us will need a blood transfusion in our lifetime and one blood donation may save three lives.

IBTS Operations Director Paul McKinney said the problem is “simply a supply and demand situation”.

Speaking on RTÉ’s Morning Ireland, he said despite clinic collections actually being very strong over what is traditionally a very challenging period for the service, the demand from hospitals, particularly for O-negative, the universal blood group, and other rhesus negative groups, is not being matched by supply.

The Clare clinic takes place next Tuesday, October 11, at Scariff Community College 5.45pm – 9pm.

Appointments may be booked on 1800 222 111. Existing and new donors are welcome.