People in Greater Manchester with the most common UK blood group are being urged to come forward and donate.
The NHS says blood stocks have dropped to “unprecedentedly low levels”.
The health service says that a “perfect storm” of both an increased demand of O-type blood at hospitals nationwide, following the recent cyber attack a couple of weeks back, and reduced collections due what it’s referred to as “high levels of unfilled appointments” at donor centres, is to blame for plummeting stock.
Because of this, the NHS Blood and Transplant has written to hospitals across the UK today to issue an ‘Amber Alert’ asking them to restrict the use of O-type blood to “essential cases” only, and to use substitutions where it’s clinically safe to do so.
🩸 Blood shortage Amber alert 🩸 The @NHS urgently needs O type blood. There are over 12000 appointments available over the next 2 weeks that we need your help to fill.
An ‘Amber Alert’ triggers hospitals being able to implement their emergency measures to minimise usage, move staff to laboratories to vet the use of all O-type blood, and also use patient blood management systems to minimise use of O-type blood.
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The NHS understands that national alerts can be a cause of concern, but it this case, it says the ‘Amber Alert’ forms an important part of the NHS’s “business continuity plan” for blood stocks.
O negative and O positive donors are also being asked to urgently book and fill appointments at donor centres.
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On average, there are around 50,000 blood donor appointments to fill each week, and more than 12,000 appointments still to fill in donor centres over the next two weeks.
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 – but, the NHS has revealed that to supply the nation’s hospitals with the 1.5 million units of blood they need to treat patients, appointments need to be close to fully booked all year round.
Donors are being urged to give blood as the NHS declares a national shortage ‘amber alert’/ Credit: NHSBT| Los Muertos Crew (via Pexels)
“We urgently need more O group donors to come forward and help boost stocks to treat patients needing treatment,” commented Dr Jo Farrar, who is the NHSBT’s Chief Executive, as the ‘Amber Alert’ was issued.
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“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 1000 appointments per week available, so please take a moment to go online and book.”
You can find out more and book a blood donor appointment either on the NHSBT website here, on the GiveBloodNHS app, or by calling 0300 123 23 23.
Featured Image – NHS Blood Donation (via Facebook)
News
You can now have a private tour of Manchester Christmas Markets
Thomas Melia
Every year, Manchester Christmas Markets hosts its almost two-month long residency on the frosty streets of our lively city, but now you can enjoy the cute huts with an unbeatable luxury experience.
Travel agency, Viator, who are directly connected to TripAdvisor, have launched a one on one guided tour of Manchester and its stunning Manchester Christmas Marketsin all their glory.
This private tour of the festivities occurring in the city will last two hours and for the whole duration of your time, a city host will be on hand to offer undivided attention, catering to your every need.
A makeshift itinerary is already awaiting guests and can be tailored according to the individual taking the tour, everything is catered to your preferences.
Anyone who books onto the tour also receives a complimentary hot chocolate and that’s sweetened the deal for me, I’m sold.
How can you go wrong with these incredible options at Manchester Christmas Markets?You can recreate your very own gigantic cheese pull and your local host can snap a piccie.Scrumptious selection of food available as you venture through Manchester Christmas Markets in style.
There’s also the chance to keep your hands toasty with a free cup of mulled wine or a soft-drink for those who aren’t interested in the warm alcoholic beverage.
Manchester Christmas Markets are a phenomenal day or night-out regardless so this latest personalised opportunity will take your festive fantasies to a whole new level.
This private tour provides a one-of-a-kind exclusive treatment making your stroll down Manchester Cathedral, Exchange Square and Manchester Town Hall that little bit more special.
These tours are a great chance to immerse yourself in one of Manchester’s many selling points as you can choose to focus your time around art and culture, fashion, architecture or our personal favourite – food.
This exclusive tour package which highlights the best of Manchester Christmas Markets is definitely a present in itself with tickets costing a hefty sum of £100.
If you want to visit Manchester Christmas Markets while also living the high life with a private tour, ‘Christmas In Manchester: Private Experience With A City Host’ is running all the way until the huts shut shop on 22 December and tickets can be found here.
A Christmas train in Wigan has been delivering donated toys galore
Thomas Melia
Yuletide wishes have come true as a donation of toys and goodies have been delivered via a Christmas train in Wigan, right in time for the big day.
The Amazon toy train, which is a new initiative running this festive season, is dropping off presents from now right up until Christmas day itself.
Already visiting Wigan earlier this month, the locomotive has its sites set on three more stops including London, Swansea and Scotland as it makes its journey across three nations.
In partnership with Multibank’s Brick-by-Brick project, the train hopes to provide and offer gifts to families in need across the UK with Wigan marking the closest stop off in Greater Manchester.
Credit: Lee Boswell (supplied)
All the toys that are being transported across the country in this Amazon-fronted train are featured on the company’s ‘Top Ten Toys 2024’ list.
Hatchimals, Screamerz and Taco Cat Goat Cheese Pizza were some of the exciting gifts found on the Christmas train in Wigan at the start of this month.
This lighthearted and fun-filled Christmas-themed project is kitted out with toys from top brands like Play-Doh and the brickmasters themselves, LEGO Star Wars.
So far, Multibank has helped over 400,000 families and provided three million essential items across their operations in England, Scotland and Wales since launching in 2022.
This collaborative local project doesn’t just operate at Christmastime either: Brick-to-Brick Multibank run all year round collecting surplus business requirements like furniture, hot water bottles and hygiene products to be used by those less fortunate.
The Christmas train in Wigan filled with Amazon’s top toys.The Wigan toy train features some well known brands.Credit: Supplied
This roster of children’s favourite companions and interactive games is inspired by the consumers themselves. Every toy is related to or the exact match of what Amazon customers have been searching for the most. A real Christmas list come true.
The list of the top toys isn’t extortionate either, offering customers some affordable and still as fascinating options with prices starting from £9.99.
Even old-school classics like Play-Doh have a spot on this wish list. This poses the really big question: where’s the adult version?
You may have finished your Christmas shopping not too long ago or might still be looking for inspiration, browse the top-ranked teddies and more HERE.
Emily Sergeant -
29th July 2024 
