Blood donations are up, but demand still exceeds supply

The volume of blood donations was still inadequate despite increasing by 16 per cent over the first quarter of 2007, Alex Aquilina, the director of the National Blood Transfusion Service, said.

In fact, as demand exceeds supply, the number of days when blood reserves were dry have increased, he said.

This could boil down to the fact that the opening of Mater Dei Hospital has pushed up the need for blood since patient turnover is higher, Dr Aquilina told The Sunday Times.

An average of 45 people donate blood every day, just five short of the required 50. Last Thursday, the blood transfusion centre made an urgent appeal for blood, saying that reserves were so low that surgical interventions risked being postponed.

The call had a positive effect with 60 people donating blood daily on both Thursday and Friday. But the numbers dropped to around 30 yesterday.

Dr Aquilina said an average of 45 people donate blood every day, with a minimum of 50 daily donors needed to maintain blood reserves at good levels. There are around 3,000 regular donors, who make donations at least twice a year.

Asked whether blood could be imported from other countries, Dr Aquilina said this did not make sense logistically since it would take time to bring the required blood to Malta.

In worst-case scenarios, operations that are considered non urgent would have to be postponed when blood stocks reach dangerously-low levels.

Stocks of blood are also needed when there are serious accidents where victims require blood transfusions.

The National Blood Transfusion Service is situated near St Luke's Hospital in Guardamangia and is open daily, including weekends and public holidays, between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m. In Gozo, the blood transfusion centre is open between Monday and Saturday from 8 and 11.30 a.m.

People up to the age of 60 can donate blood. Teenagers aged 17 and 18 need the consent of their parents.