An update on Scotland's bloodstock levels

Scotland aims to have five to seven days’ supply of all eight blood groups and currently supplies are within these levels for 3 out of the 8 blood groups. Two blood groups we need more of are particularly important: Group O or Group A.

This means we are asking people to make an extra special effort to donate at this time, particularly if you are blood group O or A.

In Scotland, we are not in an amber blood stocks situation and we have no plans for restricting clinical blood usage. We continue working with hospitals and their management of blood stocks is good. We are also working with our donor teams to increase blood collection. This will help to support forthcoming holidays and as we prepare for the World Cup, which we anticipate many donors will be watching, and the festive period.

If you are a regular Group O or Group A donor, we are likely to be contacting you at this time asking you to come forward and donate (you must leave 12 weeks in between donations). It is important to note we particularly need new donors – you can start giving blood aged 17 and there has never been a better time to start donating.

Since the pandemic, we have seen an impact on the number of donors giving at donor centres in (Aberdeen, Dundee, Edinburgh, Glasgow and Inverness). As many people have changed the way they work, or shop, we remind people that your local donor centre will have lots of appointments available. We’d also like to encourage work places to contact us to organise corporate group bookings, as life returns to normal post pandemic. 

Donations can drop off by up to 20% every holiday period in Scotland, and we are working to maintain blood supplies over next week’s half term holiday. This is because donors are busy, and we know lots of people are now travelling and undertaking leisure activities. We have plans in place to support this annual reduction, including a planned advertising campaign, and we are asking donors to make and extra special effort to donate at this time.

• You can make an appointment to give blood online, or by calling our donor information line 0345 90 90 999 (Mon-Fri, 9am-5pm)