- Australian hospitals currently have a critical shortage of O-negative blood
- The Australian Red Cross have made desperate plea for donors to come forward
- 3,000 donors have cancelled due to flu season leaving one day’s supply left
The Australian Red Cross have issued a desperate plea for blood donors to come forward after revealing hospitals are down to one day’s supply of O-negative.
Blood Service’s Jennifer Campbell Case revealed sick donors were cancelling their appointments, leaving a national shortage of the in-demand blood.
‘Nationally about 1,000 appointments are normally cancelled each day but over this cold and flu season it has spiked to 3,000,’ she told ABC News.
The Australian Red Cross have issued a desperate plea for blood donors to come forward after revealing hospitals are down to one day’s supply of O-negative
The blood type is vital for hospitals as it’s given to patients when their blood type is unknown and in emergency situations.
It is the worst cold and flu season Queensland has seen in five years with 20,000 cases.
‘That’s unprecedented for us’, Ms Campbell Case added.
With only nine per cent of Australians having O-negative, a huge surge of 3,000 donors is needed over the next fortnight to replenish stock.
With only nine per cent of Australians having O-negative, a huge surge of 3,000 donors is needed over the next fortnight to replenish stock
The blood type is vital for hospitals as it’s given to patients when their blood type is unknown and in emergency situations