Blood donors asked to book as stocks fall

NHS Fife has passed on an urgent appeal from the Scottish National Blood Transfusion Service, which says blood stocks in Scotland have dropped to unprecedented low levels. All donors, particularly people with O negative and O positive blood, are asked to book appointments at scotblood.co.uk or by calling 0345 90 90 999, with slots available until the New Year. SNBTS says hospitals need about 135,000 units of blood a year, and that donor centres have been filling only 85% of appointments on average.

Why it matters locally. Fife hospitals depend on this national supply. The official booking routes are the ones to use.