Tag Archives: Irish Blood Transfusion Service

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 …

The Irish Blood Transfusion Service (IBTS) is concerned that it may not be able to maintain supplies to hospitals over the coming two weeks. While hospital requirements have been down in recent months (-4%), donations levels have dropped significantly (10-12%). “Donors have been attending in their usual numbers over the last six weeks. However, blood donations have remained low due to the fallout from the haemoglobin measurement technology issue identified at the beginning of November,” said operations director, Paddy Bowler. “Up to October 2015, one in seven donors attending clinics were unable to donate for various reasons, since November 2015 this has worsened to one in four attending donors being unable to donate. The increase is caused entirely by donors presenting with haemoglobin levels below permitted EU donation limits.In recent weeks the IBTS has requested hospitals to conserve the use of blood groups O negative and B negative. “This morning (Monday) blood supply levels of the main blood groups stand …

THEY provide the sweat and gears – but it is up to you to provide the blood. Over five days from May 12 to May 16, a group of around 20 garda including Sergeant John Ryan and Chief Superintendent John Kerin, Ennis Garda Station will undertake a gruelling 1,000-kilometre cycle that will bring them to each one of the 26 counties. The Garda Blood4Life 2014 Cycle is a novel charity event. It’s not a fundraiser, instead, it aims to recruit blood donors and to raise awareness about the importance of blood donation in communities in every county. People are asked to pledge a unit of blood on the IBTS website www.giveblood.ie or call 021-4807400. Better still, attend a local clinic and turn your pledge into a donation. Last year, many of those who pledged a unit of blood, have since returned to give second and third donations.