Current:Home > NewsA blood shortage in the U.K. may cause some surgeries to be delayed -EverVision Finance
A blood shortage in the U.K. may cause some surgeries to be delayed
View
Date:2025-04-16 11:41:27
The National Health Service in the United Kingdom has "critically low" blood stocks and says it "urgently" needs people to donate blood.
The shortage has gotten so bad that officials say hospitals may begin postponing some elective surgeries to prioritize the blood they do have for patients with more time-sensitive needs.
"Asking hospitals to limit their use of blood is not a step we take lightly. This is a vital measure to protect patients who need blood the most," Wendy Clark, interim chief executive of NHS Blood and Transplant, said in a statement.
"Patients are our focus. I sincerely apologise to those patients who may see their surgery postponed because of this," Clark added.
U.K. authorities say they typically aim to store more than six days of blood stocks, but the current supply is predicted to soon drop below two days.
Part of the reason for the shortage is that there are fewer donors visiting blood collection centers in cities and towns in the aftermath of the coronavirus pandemic, the NHS said. The service has also struggled with staff shortages and sickness.
On Wednesday the NHS declared a so-called "amber alert," which will remain in effect for at least four weeks as officials attempt to shore up the service's blood supply.
In the meantime, hospitals will continue to perform emergency and trauma surgeries, cancer surgeries and transplants, among others. But health care providers may postpone some surgeries that require blood to be on standby such as hip replacements in favor of those that don't, including hernia repairs and gallbladder removals, the NHS said.
"I know that all hospital transfusion services, up and down the country, are working flat out to ensure that blood will be available for emergencies and urgent surgeries," said Cheng-Hock Toh, chair of the National Blood Transfusion Committee.
The NHS is asking people — particularly those with O-positive and O-negative blood types — to donate blood as soon as possible.
Health officials say they are also trying to make more staff members available for appointments and fill vacant positions more quickly.
veryGood! (94)
Related
- 'Most Whopper
- Aryna Sabalenka overpowers Emma Navarro to advance to US Open final again
- Buffalo’s mayor is offered a job as president and CEO of regional Off-Track Betting Corporation
- Shop Madewell’s Under $50 Finds & Save Up to 67% on Fall-Ready Styles Starting at $11
- Are Instagram, Facebook and WhatsApp down? Meta says most issues resolved after outages
- California schools release a blizzard of data, and that’s why parents can’t make sense of it
- Jobs report will help Federal Reserve decide how much to cut interest rates
- 'Great' dad. 'Caring' brother. Families mourn Georgia high school shooting victims.
- Scoot flight from Singapore to Wuhan turns back after 'technical issue' detected
- Harvey Weinstein UK indecent assault case dropped over chance of conviction
Ranking
- Backstage at New York's Jingle Ball with Jimmy Fallon, 'Queer Eye' and Meghan Trainor
- US Open: Aryna Sabalenka beats Emma Navarro to reach her second consecutive final in New York
- Defensive coordinator Richard Aspinwall among 4 killed in Georgia high school shooting
- Police deny Venezuela gang has taken over rundown apartment complex in Denver suburb
- Mets have visions of grandeur, and a dynasty, with Juan Soto as major catalyst
- Why Viral “Man In Finance” TikToker Megan Boni Isn’t Actually Looking for That in Her Next Relationship
- Alaska governor vetoes expanded birth control access as a judge strikes down abortion limits
- Freshman classes provide glimpse of affirmative action ruling’s impact on colleges
Recommendation
Sam Taylor
Is Chrishell Stause Outgrowing Selling Sunset? She Says…
Rich Homie Quan, 'Type of Way' and Rich Gang rapper, dies at 34: Reports
Ralph Lauren draws the fashion crowd to the horsey Hamptons for a diverse show of Americana
Retirement planning: 3 crucial moves everyone should make before 2025
North Carolina judge rejects RFK Jr.'s request to remove his name from state ballots
As Alex Morgan announces retirement, a look back her storied soccer career
Police deny Venezuela gang has taken over rundown apartment complex in Denver suburb