IBTS makes urgent appeal for blood donation

The Irish Blood Transfusion Service is seeking immediate public and donor support to help boost the national blood supply as current supplies are under 3 days across most blood groups.  

 “Despite strong collections over the last two months, high hospital demand and increasing levels of respiratory illness within the community has impacted our collections and we need the public’s help,” said Paul McKinney, Director of Donor Services and Logistics.

“In order to respond to patient need and meet hospital demand we need over 12,000 donations over the coming days and weeks to restore the blood supply and safely support our health service.   In advance of the upcoming public holiday on 27^th of October we will be holding additional clinics on Sunday 19^th of October, and after the public holiday weekend,” he added.

“In 2024 the IBTS issued the highest number of blood donation units to Irish hospitals in over a decade, at just under 128,500 units and this exceptionally high demand has further increased during 2025”.

The IBTS also urgently needs new donors, younger donors, donors of all ethnicities, and particularly those of African heritage.

“We are asking people who might never have given blood before, or it’s been a while, to make it their goal to give blood, and the priceless gift of life, to those in our communities and hospitals who need it,” he said.

There are nearly 150 clinics nationwide over the next 4 weeks. All with plenty of capacity.

Only 3% of the population are blood donors and approximately 8% of these donors are O negative. However, as this blood can be transfused to patients of all groups, issues of this blood group to hospitals regularly hits 15% thus requiring more frequent calls on donors of this group.

The IBTS needs to collect 3,200 units of blood every week to maintain the national blood supply.

It is estimated that 1 in 4 people will require a blood transfusion at some stage in their lives with 67% of all blood used to help support cancer patients.

Donors who receive a text message from the IBTS can book an appointment online at www.giveblood.ie or contact the number provided.

For anybody interested in becoming a donor, you can register your interest on www.giveblood.ie where you will also find all clinic locations / opening hours and eligibility details or call us at 1800 731 137.