Blood supplies run low after wintry weather hits donations

Blood supplies for transfusions in Scotland are running low after the recent snow and freezing temperatures saw a drop-off in donations.

The Scottish National Blood Transfusion Service (SNBTS) has issued an appeal for donors to rebuild stocks, with six of the eight blood groups particularly in demand.

People are urged to book an appointment at one of its donor centres - in Aberdeen, Dundee, Edinburgh, Glasgow or Inverness - or attend community donation sessions.

Donated blood only has a shelf life of up to 35 days, and is split into different products, some of which can only be stored for much shorter periods.

Dr Sylvia Armstrong-Fisher from SNBTS said Scotland needs about 450 blood donors every day to meet the needs of hospital patients.

She said: "This does not take a rest due to bad weather. However, fewer people are donating than before, and this puts pressure on Scotland's blood supply.

"I am urging both new and returning donors to come forward to help ensure lifesaving blood is always available."

SNBTS said the main donation centres had been "quiet" during the wintry weather and it was running short of supplies of O+, A+, B+ AB+ and O- blood types.

Each donation is split into three separate parts - red cells, platelets and plasma.

Platelets, which can stop bleeding and help people with cancer, only have a shelf life of seven days

Half of Scotland's platelet supply comes from dedicated platelet donors but this has to be supplemented by whole blood donations, and it takes four of these to make up a single unit of platelets.

Other specialised products such as blood given to a baby still in the womb is never more than five days old.

Aside from the weather affecting donations, SNBTS has observed a long-term decline in the number of people who regularly donate blood.