Amber Alert over national blood shortage as cyber attack leaves NHS with only 1.6 days supply of O Negative

An increased demand for O type blood from hospitals following a recent cyber attack has caused stocks of blood to drop to unprecedentedly low levels.

NHS Blood and Transplant has written to hospitals to issue an ‘Amber Alert’ asking them to restrict the use of O type blood to essential cases and use substitutions where clinically safe to do so.

O negative and O positive donors are asked to urgently book and fill appointments at donor centres, including in Cambridge.

National stocks of O Negative would last 1.6 days and overall national stocks of blood across all types would last 4.3 days, the service said.

An ongoing cyber incident by Russian hackers affecting London hospitals has impacted O negative stocks. It has left hospitals unable to match blood types as quickly as they normally would, meaning they have been relying more heavily on O-type blood.

O negative is the type that can be given to anyone – known as the universal blood type. It is used in emergencies or when a patient’s blood type is unknown.

Air ambulances and emergency response vehicles carry O negative supplies. Just 8 per cent of the population have type O Negative but it makes up for around 16 per cent of hospital orders.

Officials said the blood stocks had been hit by a “perfect storm”, as the cyber attack has coincided with many unfilled appointments at donor centres, including in Cambridge.

On average, there are around 50,000 appointments to fill each week. There are more than 12,000 appointments still to fill in donor centres across England over the next two weeks, including around 550 at Cambridge Donor Centre.

Hospitals will continue to carry out urgent, emergency or trauma surgery, cancer surgery, transplant surgery and blood transfusions to treat people with long-term conditions.

NHS Blood and Transplant chief executive Dr Jo Farrar said: “We urgently need more O group donors in Cambridge to come forward and help boost stocks to treat patients needing treatment.

“Last month we saw an incredible response from donors who answered our call and filled up our centres, helping us meet the increased demands for blood throughout June.

“However, seven weeks on, the need for O negative blood in particular remains critical.

“We’re making an additional 1,000 appointments per week available, please take a moment to go online and book.

“If you can’t find an appointment immediately, please book in for coming days, weeks and months. We will have an ongoing need for donations. Thank you everyone for your support.”

Chief medical officer Dr Gail Miflin added: “Three blood donations are needed every minute in hospitals to deal with emergencies, childbirth and routine treatments. Blood only has a shelf life of 35 days so the NHS needs blood all year round.

“There are just under 800,000 regular blood donors, 108,000 of whom are O Negative. Ultimately, we need more people to be regular blood donors and come to one of our 25 donor centres. Women can donate once every four months and men can donate once every three months.”

Prof Sir Stephen Powis, NHS national medical director, said: “We’re seeing an increased demand for blood and shortages of stock so it’s important that donors come forward for appointments.”

“With thanks to regular blood donors across the country, hospitals will continue to access stock when necessary and prioritise it for those who need it most.”

Register today and book an appointment to donate via the GiveBloodNHS app, or at blood.co.uk.