Vol. 520 No. 3
83 Ms Fitzgerald asked the Minister for Health and Children his view on the low levels of blood donations in this country at present; the steps he will take to address the situation; if elective surgery has been postponed due to diminishing blood stock levels; if so, the scale of the problem in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15720/00]
I am concerned that on occasions there are difficulties with the blood supply and that, as a consequence, elective surgery was postponed recently in a small number of hospitals. However, I am pleased to advise that there is now sufficient blood stocks available to meet hospital requirements over the coming weeks.
Transfusion services internationally continue to experience difficulties in meeting the demand for blood. Constant effort is needed to maintain donations at an adequate level to meet service needs and to manage seasonal variations in blood supply. In this country approximately 100,000 donors give blood annually. I have met blood donors since my appointment as Minister for Health and Children and I am fully aware of their pride in supporting people in need and in their practical commitment to donating blood on a regular basis despite the time and inconvenience involved. I would like to acknowledge their altruism and the major contribution their voluntary efforts make to improving the health of so many patients and sustaining important elements of our hospital services.
The Irish Blood Transfusion Service is implementing a major campaign through the media at national and local levels to advise of blood supply difficulties and to encourage more donors to come forward and attend local blood collection clinics. Blood donors have responded generously and speedily to this campaign.
