Monday 12 August 2024

Who Can, And Can't, Give Blood

The NHS has issued a warning that blood stock levels have are dropped to 'unprecedentedly low levels in England' following a cyber attack which has affected levels due to affecting the length of times it is taking to perform the necessary checks on the donor.
The NHS try to keep 6 days worth on hand but stocks of O negative blood are down to 1.57 days worth, B negative 3.13 days worth, O positive 3.46 days worth and A positive 4.39 days worth.
Officials have also issued an amber alert asking hospitals to restrict use of these types of blood to only the most urgent cases.
NHS Blood and Transplant is asking both O negative and O positive donors to urgently book an appointment but not just anyone can give blood and the NHS has a list of who can't which includes anyone under 17 or over 65, weighs less than 7 stone 12 lbs or over 25 stone.
You are also ineligible if you have had cancer, a heart condition,  HIV, Hepatitis B or C or have injected non-prescribed drugs including body-building and injectable tanning agents.
You may have to wait up to 3 months before you can donate if  you have had anal sex with a new partner in the last 3 months, are pregnant or have given birth in the last 6 months, have recently got a tattoo or piercing or have given blood in the last 12 weeks for a man or 16 weeks for a woman.

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