The people's response to yesterday's call for blood donations was extremely positive, but the shortage remains and a steady flow of donors is needed until Sunday for the situation to return to normal, a spokesman for the Blood Bank said this morning.

Staff nurse Tony Micallef told timesofmalta.com this morning that 35 to 50 bags of blood a day were needed for scheduled operations to go ahead.

Had the people not responded to the Blood Bank's call yesterday, today's operations would have had to be postponed.

Although the people's response yesterday meant that today's operations could go ahead, the risk of cancelling other operations in the coming days remained unless more blood donations were made, he said.

Besides the 35 to 50 bags needed daily for operations, another 20 to 30 bags are required to replenish stocks and be available for emergencies.

Mr Micallef said that blood was in much greater demand in summer because more accidents took place. Following an accident in the past days, a patient needed 40 bags of blood and another patient, also involved in an accident needing 25.

All blood types are required.

Blood can be donated at the Blood Bank in Guardamangia outside St Luke's Hospital, Mondays to Sundays from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. or at Gozo General Hospital from Mondays to Saturdays from 8.30 10 11.30 a.m.

On Sunday, the mobile blood donation unit will be in front of St Francis Parish Church in Qawra between 8.30 a.m. and 1 p.m.

Donors should have their identity card available.