The Queen Elizabeth Hospital has intensified its call for blood donations, warning that stocks are running low and that more donors are urgently needed to sustain essential emergency and surgical care.
Dr Christine Greenidge, chief operations officer, highlighted the importance of community support as she appeared on the hospital’s Pulse Radio Show.
“Blood is critical for the work that our doctors do in the Emergency Department and elsewhere in saving lives,” she said.
Trauma cases, including gunshot and stabbing wounds, often require large volumes of blood, making donations essential, she added.
She also made an urgent call for rare blood types, such as O negative and A negative, and commended recent donors who responded promptly to calls for these types.
“Recently, we made a call… we wanted those individuals that we have a relationship with to come in and give us that donation… and they did just that,” she said.
Several blood drives are scheduled across the island in October to boost national reserves.
Collection teams would be at Ross University on Friday and Saturday, PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) from October 13 to 16 and Bajan Sigmas on October 23.
Donors can visit the QEH Blood Bank, located next to the Winston Scott Polyclinic, where staff, including manager Wendy Lord, are ready to assist, Dr Greenidge said.
Both whole blood and platelets are needed to meet patient demands.
“When we get to the level where our stock is not where it needs to be, the appeal that would go up… that’s a responsible thing that we must do to ensure those units are readily available,” she said. “If you know for a fact that you are in that rare blood group and you want to donate, feel free to head down to the blood bank.” (LG)
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