PEOPLE in West Somerset with O negative or B negative blood type are being asked to help as stocks of these could fall below two days worth.
NHS Blood and Transplant is appealing for the help to offset a shortage and increase in demand due to a bank holiday drop-off in donations.
O negative is the ‘universal’ blood group and is often used when a patient’s blood type is not known, such as in accidents and other emergency situations.
B negative stocks are low also because many patients with serious blood disorders need B negative blood. Only two per cent of donors are B negative.
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Union says more Government money needed to recruit new Somerset firefightersMike Stredder, director of Blood Donation at NHS Blood and Transplant said: “The overall demand for blood is declining year on year. However, the need for specific blood groups are on the increase.
“We need an additional 4,000 regular O negative donors to those we have now to consistently provide seriously ill patients with the blood they need.”
Call 0300 123 23 23 to ask for a priority appointment at a community blood session. Information about blood donor centres is also available on the website www.blood.co.uk.