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The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:
The Hong Kong Red Cross Blood Transfusion Service (BTS) today (January 8) appealed to members of the public to donate blood immediately to replenish the blood inventories and avoid disruptions to the blood supply and clinical transfusion treatment of patients.
The BTS spokesperson said that although there has been an appeal for a daily turnout of 1,100 donors in order to stabilise the blood inventories and supply, there has been a shortfall. While the blood demand remains high, the blood stock has been depleted further to 50 per cent of its normal level. If there are fewer than 1,100 people coming forward per day in the coming week, the blood supply and clinical transfusion treatment of patients will be affected.
A combination of factors has caused the recent blood collection to fall short of the daily hospital demand, gradually driving down the blood stock to its current low. The spokesperson explained that the cold weather significantly increased hospital admission with the occupancy rate of medical wards at all public hospitals exceeding 100 per cent lately, with some even reaching nearly 130 per cent. Some donors became sick and had to defer blood donation because of the low temperatures. Collection was also affected by the sharp rise in the number of holidaymakers in the long holiday period. The BTS urges all sectors in the community to join in and support blood donation. Only when more people get into the habit of regular donation can they steadily provide sufficient blood for chronically and critically ill patients throughout the year.
Anyone who is aged between 16 and 60 (donation is possible up to the age of 70 if predetermined conditions are met), weighs over 41 kilograms and is in good health is eligible to give blood. Male and female adult donors aged 18 or above can donate every 75 days and every 105 days respectively. Youths aged 16 and 17 can donate every 150 days. For the locations and service hours of donor centres, please call 2710 1234 or visit the BTS website www.ha.org.hk/rcbts.
Ends/Thursday, January 8, 2015
Issued at HKT 17:18
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