UK hospitals told to prioritize blood due to stock shortage
October 13, 2022, 7:47 am

UK hospitals told to prioritize blood due to stock shortage

British health officials on Wednesday (October 12) asked hospitals to limit their use of blood according to priority - Photo. Pixabay

British health officials on Wednesday (Oct 12) warned that non-urgent hospital operations could be cancelled due to a shortage in blood stocks, calling for more supplies, the AFP reported, the al-Arabiya said.

The warning came as NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT), which collects blood and other tissues, issued its first “amber alert” warning.

“Asking hospitals to limit their use of blood is not a step we take lightly,” said the service’s interim chief executive, Wendy Clark.

“This is a vital measure to protect patients who need blood the most,” she added, apologizing to patients whose surgery could be cancelled.

The amber alert will last for an initial four weeks to allow stocks to be replenished, particularly of O-type blood – the most common.

Priority is being given to patients who need blood the most, such as for transfusions for people with long-term conditions.

UK hospitals told to prioritize blood due to stock shortage - Photo. Pixabay

NHSBT added that hospitals will continue to carry out urgent, emergency or trauma surgery, as well as for cancer and transplants.

But non-urgent surgery could be postponed, adding to a waiting list crisis in the publicly funded health service, which the government is under pressure to tackle.

Nurses in England and Wales to vote next month on strike action over pay

Some 6.84 million people were on the waiting list in England at the end of July, according to figures from NHS England published in September.

NHSBT aims to hold more than six days of overall blood stocks, but levels of group O types are predicted to fall below two days.

Stocks of other groups are expected to enter amber levels in the next few weeks.

Covid cases and hospital admissions at 'highest level in months' in UK

NHSBT said maintaining blood stocks had been a challenge since the pandemic because of staff shortages at donor centers but also changes in donor habits.

Blood can only be stored for 35 days, which means there is a constant need for donations – and specific blood types.

NHSBT assesses supply according to demand from patients and hospitals to prevent waste and to provide required blood types.

Source: alarabiya

Czechs ban Russians with Schengen visas from entering Women wearing burqas in public face $990 fine under Swiss draft law

BENEFIT, the Kingdom’s innovator and leading company in Fintech and electronic financial transactions service, held its Annual General Meeting (AGM) at the company’s headquarters in the Seef District.
During the meeting, shareholders approved all items listed on the agenda, including the ratification of the minutes of the previous AGM held on 26 March 2024. The session reviewed and approved the Board’s Annual Report on the company’s activities and financial performance for the fiscal year ended 31 December 2024, and the shareholders expressed their satisfaction with the company’s operational and financial results during the reporting period.
The meeting also reviewed the Independent External Auditor’s Report on the company’s consolidated financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2024. Subsequently, the shareholders approved the audited financial statements for the fiscal year. Based on the Board’s recommendation, the shareholders approved the distribution of a cash dividend equivalent to 10% of the paid-up share capital.
Furthermore, the shareholders endorsed the allocation of a total amount of BD 172,500 as remuneration to the members of the Board for the year ended 31 December 2024, subject to prior clearance by related authorities.
The extension of the current composition of the Board was approved, which includes ten members and one CBB observer, for a further six-month term, expiring in September 2025, pending no objection from the CBB.
The meeting reviewed and approved the Corporate Governance Report for 2024, which affirmed the company’s full compliance with the corporate governance directives issued by the CBB and other applicable regulatory frameworks. The AGM absolved the Board Members of liability for any of their actions during the year ending on 31st December 2024, in accordance with the Commercial Companies Law.
In alignment with regulatory requirements, the session approved the reappointment of Ernst & Young (EY) as the company’s External Auditors for the fiscal year 2025, covering both the parent company and its subsidiaries—Sinnad and Bahrain FinTech Bay. The Board was authorised to determine the external auditors’ professional fees, subject to approval from the CBB, and the meeting concluded with a discussion of any additional issues as per Article (207) of the Commercial Companies Law.
Speaking on the company’s performance, Mr. Mohamed Al Bastaki, Chairman BENEFIT , stated: “In terms of the financial results for 2024, I am pleased to say that the year gone by has also been proved to be a success in delivering tangible results. Growth rate for 2024 was 19 per cent. Revenue for the year was BD 17 M (US$ 45.3 Million) and net profit was 2 Million ($ 5.3 Million).

Mr. Al Bastaki also announced that the Board had formally adopted a new three-year strategic roadmap to commence in 2025. The strategy encompasses a phased international expansion, optimisation of internal operations, enhanced revenue diversification, long-term sustainability initiatives, and the advancement of innovation and digital transformation initiatives across all service lines.
“I extend my sincere appreciation to the CBB for its continued support of BENEFIT and its pivotal role in fostering a stable and progressive regulatory environment for the Kingdom’s banking and financial sector—an environment that has significantly reinforced Bahrain’s standing as a leading financial hub in the region,” said Mr. Al Bastaki. “I would also like to thank our partner banks and valued customers for their trust, and our shareholders for their ongoing encouragement. The achievements of 2024 set a strong precedent, and I am confident they will serve as a foundation for yet another successful and impactful year ahead.”
Chief Executive of BENEFIT; Mr. Abdulwahed AlJanahi commented, “The year 2024 represented another pivotal chapter in BENEFIT ’s evolution. We achieved substantial progress in advancing our digital strategy across multiple sectors, while reinforcing our long-term commitment to the development of Bahrain’s financial services and payments landscape. Throughout the year, we remained firmly aligned with our objective of delivering measurable value to our shareholders, strategic partners, and customers. At the same time, we continued to play an active role in enabling Bahrain’s digital economy by introducing innovative solutions and service enhancements that directly address market needs and future opportunities.”
Mr. AlJanahi affirmed that BENEFIT has successfully developed a robust and well-integrated payment network that connects individuals and businesses across Bahrain, accelerating the adoption of emerging technologies in the banking and financial services sector and reinforcing Bahrain’s position as a growing fintech hub, and added, “Our achievements of the past year reflect a long-term vision to establish a resilient electronic payment infrastructure that supports the Kingdom’s digital economy. Key developments in 2024 included the implementation of central authentication for open banking via BENEFIT Pay”
Mr. AlJanahi concluded by thanking the Board for its strategic direction, the company’s staff for their continued dedication, and the Central Bank of Bahrain, member banks, and shareholders for their valuable partnership and confidence in the company’s long-term vision.