Blood banks’ ‘urgent’ supply issues now nationwide

Non-urgent patients could face delays, with blood shortages now affecting states nationwide. See the donors most in need and what it means for patients.

Treatment for non-urgent patients may be delayed after supplies of critical blood types fell to “urgent” levels across the country on Tuesday morning.

Australian Red Cross Lifeblood downgraded supplies of Group of A and O blood in both Victoria and Australia to “urgent” overnight, as they launch a critical appeal for donations.

The situation in Victoria for some of the most commonly used blood types – including the critical universal donor O negative – had been rated as “very low” on Monday.

But this was downgraded to “urgent” on Tuesday morning after the national organisation — which can normally cover shortages by moving blood across the country as needed — saw stocks in every state fall.

The organisation emphasised that there was no risk a patient will not receive blood in an emergency, but “it can mean in less urgent situations that some patients may have to wait”.

A and O blood groups stocks have fallen to "urgent" levels in Victoria, while supply of B negative has reached 'very low' levels as of Tuesday morning. Picture: Lifeblood

The new lows come after the organisation announced on Tuesday an extra 4,200 blood donors were urgently needed in Victoria, after a spike in cancellations coincided with the highest demand in more than a decade.

They called for an extra 8,500 Australians to donate blood in the next seven days, warning they will “struggle to meet patients’ needs if cancellations continue and appointments aren’t filled”.

Victoria, home to the worst shortages, made up almost half the national target with supplies of the most commonly used blood groups — including the crucial universal donor type.

The state’s supplies of O negative and A negative were on Monday rated as “very low” — the only two in the entire country — by Lifeblood’s red cell supply tracker.

They were downgraded to “urgent”, alongside the rest of Australia, on Tuesday morning, while B negative stocks hit “very low” levels.

The drop has been blamed on cold and flu cases and new Lifeblood data shows one in five Victorian donors were forced to cancel or postpone their appointment this winter due to symptoms.

An extra 4200 blood donors are urgently needed in Victoria. Picture: Jerad Williams

Similar cancellation numbers were recorded interstate, leading to Australia’s highest cancellation rate in five years and up to a thousand donor chairs across the country sitting empty each day.

A Lifeblood spokeswoman said the fall in supply came at the same time as “ongoing high demand for blood from hospitals”.

“It’s the highest it’s been in 12 years and it’s not slowing down,” she said.

“As a national organisation, we move our blood stocks between states to where it’s needed most to support patients.”

Demand from Victorian hospitals was the highest in 11 years and the spokeswoman said Lifeblood particularly needed donations from Victorians “with A and O blood groups” this week.

Australia's red cell supply levels as of Tuesday morning. The shortage is now nationwide. Picture: Lifeblood

“More than 80 per cent of Victorians have one of these blood types, so not only are they always in high demand in hospitals across the state, but it also means that 80 per cent of people have these blood types and may be eligible to donate,” she said.

She said O negative, the universal blood type, was heavily relied on by ambulances and emergency helicopters for trauma patients and made up 16 per cent of hospital orders.

Donor relations director Steve Eldridge said the country needed thousands of blood and plasma donations every day, urging anyone “feeling healthy and well” to “step up” and fill those empty chairs.

“The most disappointing thing is when empty spots go unfilled especially when we know there are millions of people who could help,” he said.

Lifeblood, who also had to issue an urgent appeal in late May, needed 33,000 donations a week to meet demand, but only three per cent of Australians donate blood and plasma regularly.

The spokeswoman said Victoria was one of their largest states, “contributing nearly 30 per cent of the nation’s blood supply”.

“Australia’s largest donor centre is also here in Victoria, located at 1/367 Collins St in Melbourne, and is home to one out of every 20 donors.”

Call 13 14 95 or go to lifeblood.com.au to book.

Originally published as Blood banks’ ‘urgent’ supply issues now nationwide