Latest news with #IBTS
The Journal
21-05-2025
- Health
- The Journal
'Urgent appeal' for blood donations after transfusion service warns of critically low stocks
THE IRISH BLOOD Transfusion Service (IBTS) has issued an urgent appeal for an additional 2,000 blood donations over the next four weeks, warning that national blood stocks have dropped to critically low levels for several key blood groups. Current supplies for O negative and B negative blood types are hovering at just three days worth, while O positive (the most common blood group in Ireland) is at only 2.5 days supply. The IBTS generally maintains a rolling seven-day supply across all blood groups to meet hospital needs. Paul McKinney, Director of donor services and logistics, said the situation is 'causing concern,' particularly given the high demand for blood following the Easter and May Bank Holidays and the impact of sustained good weather on clinic attendance. 'We need to boost our collections by 500 donations per week across all blood groups to meet consistently high demand,' McKinney said. 'The start of the summer holiday travel period has also reduced donor availability, which is why we're asking people to act now.' Advertisement To help manage the shortage, a stock management alert letter was issued to hospitals on 13 May, instructing them to restrict blood use and reduce on-site stock levels. The IBTS warned that if supply levels fall further, it may be forced to issue an 'amber alert' – a formal escalation in the blood shortage plan that would likely impact elective surgeries requiring transfusions. The IBTS is calling on regular donors, especially in Dublin and Cork, to make an extra effort to attend local clinics. The service is also appealing for greater donor diversity to improve patient outcomes. 'We particularly encourage new donors of African heritage to join the national blood donor panel,' said McKinney. 'This will help us diversify the donor base and improve blood type matches for patients in need.' Anyone interested in donating can check their eligibility and make an appointment at or call 1800 731 137. Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone... A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation. Learn More Support The Journal
Irish Examiner
21-05-2025
- Health
- Irish Examiner
Irish Blood Transfusion Service urges public to donate as blood supplies reach critical low
Blood donors have been asked to take a break from the sunshine and attend clinics, with 2,000 extra donations urgently needed as some blood type supplies are down to just three days. The Irish Blood Transfusion Service (IBTS) appealed on Wednesday for people to come forward in large numbers over the next four weeks. Clinics in Cork and Dublin are now offering donors mixed-reality experiences to make donation more fun. Only 3% of eligible people donate, but demand is so high it is estimated that one in four people will need a transfusion during their lives. Hospitals have been asked to use existing stocks of blood to help the IBTS share limited supply across health services. Director of donor services and logistics Paul McKinney said the IBTS aim to always have seven days' worth of blood in storage. 'However, current stock levels including those for O negative and B negative are causing concern at just three days' supply, and O positive which relates to nearly half the total population is at just over 2.5 days,' he warned. The IBTS issued a stock management alert to hospitals last week. 'If the IBTS must issue an 'amber alert letter' which is the next escalation level of the blood shortage plan, it would have an immediate implication for hospitals and for elective surgical procedures requiring blood support,' he said. Blood donors trying out new mixed reality experiences at IBTS clinics. The pilot initiative will run between May and June in a number of IBTS donation centres in Dublin and Cork. Picture: Abbot He explained that demand from hospitals has been high since the Easter and May bank holidays. 'The continued good weather has also impacted clinic attendances,' he said, adding: 'the start of the summer holiday travel period has also had an impact on donor availability'. The service is now seeking to boost collections by 500 donations per week. 'We are asking regular donors to make an extra effort to attend their nearest clinic especially in Dublin and Cork where we have clinic availability every week,' he said. He also called on holidaymakers to consider donating before heading away for the summer. 'New donors are especially welcome,' he said. 'We would particularly encourage new donors of African heritage to join the National blood donor panel to help us diversify the donor base and get better blood type matches for patients.' Clinics in Cork and Dublin began offering mixed reality experiences this week in partnership with healthcare company Abbott. Mr McKinney welcomed the novel approach. 'This innovative technology introduces a gaming-like experience which evidence and feedback suggests makes blood, platelet and plasma donation less intimidating and more fun for the donor,' he said. 'We also hope it will encourage many people, of all ages, who want to donate but have been nervous about doing so in the past." The project runs throughout June. Donors are given lightweight headsets with a translucent visor to wear while donating blood. Playing Intergalactica sees donors build a team of robots to explore planets, solve puzzles, and defeat enemies. While playing Zen Garden, donors listen to soothing music while planting seeds. More information at: or phone 1800 731 137. Read More New breast cancer treatment that avoids chemotherapy saves woman almost €43k in lost income avoided
Irish Times
21-05-2025
- Health
- Irish Times
‘Concern' at Irish Blood Transfusion Service over supply in several groups
An additional 2,000 blood donations are required over the coming weeks as some blood groups have fallen to three days' supply 'causing concern', the Irish Blood Transfusion Service (IBTS) has said. Although the IBTS aims to have seven days' worth of stock at all times, current supply levels have fallen to three days for some blood groups such as O negative and B negative. While the service is seeking donations across all blood groups to meet 'consistently high demand,' it noted that O positive, the most common blood group in Ireland, is at just over 2½ days' supply. Director of donor services and logistics Paul McKinney said the low supply of O positive in particular, which is typically the easiest to collect due to a large pool of donors, is a 'real concern' and 'very unusual'. READ MORE Hospital demand for blood has remained high since the Easter bank holiday, while the extended period of warm weather and the start of the summer holiday period have affected clinic attendances and donor availability, said Mr McKinney. Last week, the IBTS issued a 'pre-amber alert' to all hospitals, restricting issues and asking for a reduction in their stock holding, which allows the service to manage the limited supply available more effectively, he said. 'If we were to go to amber, which we never have done, we would send an instruction asking them to review their operations and to consider not going ahead with elective operations,' he said. The IBTS, which requires more than 3,000 units of blood each week to maintain the national supply, is seeking regular donors to attend their nearest clinic, particularly in Dublin and Cork where there is increased clinic availability. New donors, who can check their eligibility on , are 'especially welcome,' particularly those of African heritage who could help diversify the donor base, said Mr McKinney.
RTÉ News
21-05-2025
- Health
- RTÉ News
Appeal for 2,000 blood donations as supply runs low
An additional 2,000 blood donations are needed over the next four weeks to maintain the national blood supply, according to the Irish Blood Transfusion Service (IBTS). It said some blood groups have fallen to under three days of stock. It said that stock levels, including those for O negative and B negative are causing concern. IBTS Director of Donor Services and Logistics Paul McKinney said the service aims to have a seven day supply at all times, but O positive supplies - which relate to nearly half the total population - are at just over two-and-a-half days currently. He said that a stock management alert letter was issued to all hospitals on 13 May, "restricting issues and hospitals have been asked to reduce their stock holding. This enables the IBTS to manage the limited blood supply available more effectively across the health service." The next escalation of the blood shortage is the issuing of an amber alert letter and this will have major implications on the health service, Mr McKinney said. "If the IBTS must issue an 'amber alert letter', it would have an immediate implication for hospitals and for elective surgical procedures that require blood support. "Hospital demand for blood has been consistently high, particularly since the Easter and May Bank holidays. The continued good weather has also impacted clinic attendances," he added. Read More: Mixed reality headsets to help drive blood donations Mr McKinney said the IBTS needs to boost its collections by 500 donations per week across all blood groups to meet the consistently high demand. "In addition, the start of the summer holiday travel period has also had an impact on donor availability," he added. The IBTS is asking regular donors to make an extra effort to attend their nearest clinic, especially in Dublin and Cork, where there is clinic availability every week. For the longer term, it is also urging donors to consider giving blood if they are eligible before travelling abroad this summer. "New donors are especially welcome, and we would encourage anybody interested in giving blood to visit our website to check their eligibility before coming to a clinic and call us on 1800 731137 to make an appointment," Mr McKinney said. "We would particularly encourage new donors of African heritage to join the national blood donor panel to help us diversify the donor base and get better blood type matches for patients," he added.
RTÉ News
19-05-2025
- Health
- RTÉ News
Mixed reality headsets to help drive blood donations
A new pilot scheme has been launched that will see blood donors being offered mixed reality headsets while they donate. Users will be able to play relaxing, immersive games designed to distract them and reduce anxiety. It is also hoped the scheme will encourage more young people to consider blood donation. The experience is called mixed reality rather than virtual reality because the user can still see their surroundings while they play. The lightweight headsets have a translucent visor, so the eyes of donors are always visible to clinical staff, ensuring constant monitoring. The games are controlled through head-tracking technology, so users do not need to move their arms. There are two games to choose from; a zen garden that allows users to plant seeds while listening to relaxing music, and 'Intergalactica' in which donors build a team of robots to explore planets and solve puzzles. Health technology company Abbot is behind the project which has already been rolled out in a number of countries. A study with two blood centres in the US found that the use of mixed reality decreased anxiety in 68% of donors and 89% of donors reported they were very or extremely likely to donate again. "These headsets balance complex computing with a simple insight – many people fear donating blood and mixed reality technology makes it easier to donate blood by giving the donors something else to focus on," said Abbot's Transfusion Medicine Global Marketing Director Joana Araujo. "We hope that the improved experience leads to more people wanting to donate blood in Ireland," Ms Araujo said. Conor Cody has been a regular donor for three years and tried the new technology at a blood donation clinic in Dublin. "It was very relaxing and I was completely engrossed in the game, I really enjoyed it," Mr Cody said. "If you have any slight fear of what's going on, it takes your mind off it completely." "I'm used to it now so it doesn't bother me, but the time just flew, and I really enjoyed the game," he added. The pilot initiative will run between May and June in a number of Irish Blood Transfusion Service (IBTS) donation centres in Dublin and Cork. The IBTS will then gather feedback from donors before deciding if it will adopt the scheme on a more long-term basis. "This innovative technology introduces a gaming-like experience which evidence and feedback suggests makes blood, platelet and plasma donation less intimidating and more fun for the donor," said ICTS Director of Donor Services and Logistics Paul McKinney. "We also hope it will encourage many people, of all ages, who want to donate but have been nervous about doing so in the past." "Blood supplies are very low right now, the summer demand has been huge and hospitals have been very busy," Mr McKinney said. "The good weather is not working in our favour and our attendances are not as high as we would like," he added. The IBTS is calling for donors from all ethnic backgrounds to help meet patient demand.
