The Irish Blood Transfusion Service is appealing for donors, with a blood donation clinic operating in Castleblayney today. Director of Operations at the Irish Blood Transfusion Service, Paul McKinney, told the Joe Finnegan Show earlrier that the organisation likes to keep seven days' supply of all blood types but, at present, supplies are down to three days for most. 48 per cent of us have the O positive blood type but supplies of it are down to three and a half days.
Mr McKinney said it's a "situation of supply and demand" as the service issued 10,000 units in August, which, is the highest number provided for that month in a decade. He explained there is "a lot of sickness in the community", people are travelling, schools have returned and demand from hospitals remains high.
The mobile donor unit is in Castleblayney today and will return to Monaghan in Carrickmacross on October 17th, Monaghan on October 21st to 23rd and Clones, Cootehill, Ballyjamesduff and Manorhamilton in the coming weeks. For information on how you can donate visit giveblood.ie. Paul McKinney says supply to clinics is strong but there's still plenty of capacity as they're currently only 65 to 70 per cent full: "We are exp[eriencoing very hoighg demand from hospitals," Mr McKinney told Northern Sound, "In August, we issued over 10,000 units and the demand has continued all the eay through September. Ands, In terms of supply to our clinics, it has been strong but there's still plenty of capacity in them. They're about 65 to 70 per cent full. There's quite a lot of sickness out in the community so, it's really a situation of supply and demand . We are struggling to satisfy the very large demand from hospitals."
