Blood stocks have not recovered from the bad weather earlier this month, the authorities warned yesterday.
The level of reserves in England stands at 3.5 days compared with a target of six days, NHS Blood and Transplant warned.
It is concerned because later in the month it will see a fall in regular donations because of the Easter holidays.
The organisation called on registered donors to make appointments and to keep them to ensure levels of stocks are maintained.
It said it lost at least 6,000 units of blood because of the bad weather. Stocks are particularly low for group O, B and A+ blood.
Jon Latham, from NHS Blood and Transplant, said: “There are people desperately in need of a blood transfusion over the Easter period, so it’s vital that those people who have appointments keep them or let us know in good time so we can offer them up to someone else.
“The recent bad weather hit our blood stocks and we now need to make up that shortfall.”
The appeal was backed by the mother of patient Harley Penty, aged three, who has received more than 50 platelet transfusions and 25 blood transfusions in the last two years as part of treatment for acute lymphoblastic leukaemia.
His mother Leanne said: “Harley wouldn't be here without blood donors. Blood donation was something we'd never thought about. A lot of friends and family have now signed up to donate after seeing what Harley has been through.”
Source: NHS Blood and Transplant
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