Urgent call for blood donations as hospitals face critical shortage
Authorities warn that some planned emergencies may be postponed without immediate donations
Hospitals have issued an urgent call for blood donations due to a "critical shortage" of blood type 'A positive' (A+).
In an appeal issued Saturday morning, the National Blood Transfusion Service (NBTS) warned that "without immediate donations, some planned operations will be postponed".
The NBTS urged members of the public to donate blood at its centres in Gwardamanġa or Gozo "to ensure blood is available for life-threatening emergencies".
Those interested in donating should bring their ID card with them.
"Your donation could save a life and help ensure blood is available when a serious emergency occurs," the national blood service said in an SMS message sent to donors this morning.
Additional blood drives will be held Sunday in Ibraġġ near the parish church and at the Gozo Xewkija centre. Further blood drives are planned for later this month.
For more information, visit the NBTS website.
'A Positive' blood is the most common blood group in Malta, carried by around two-fifths of the population, and the most used by health authorities.
It is especially needed by the healthcare system as it may be given to all A+ and AB+ patients.
The NBTS notes that the national blood bank "really needs this blood type to be able to help those who need it without depleting the stocks of the other blood groups that are compatible with this".