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UK hospitals told to prioritize blood due to stock shortage

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.

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.
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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.
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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
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BENEFIT Sponsors BuildHer...
- April 23, 2025
BENEFIT, the Kingdom’s innovator and leading company in Fintech and electronic financial transactions service, has sponsored the BuildHer CityHack 2025 Hackathon, a two-day event spearheaded by the College of Engineering and Technology at the Royal University for Women (RUW).
Aimed at secondary school students, the event brought together a distinguished group of academic professionals and technology experts to mentor and inspire young participants.
More than 100 high school students from across the Kingdom of Bahrain took part in the hackathon, which featured an intensive programme of training workshops and hands-on sessions. These activities were tailored to enhance participants’ critical thinking, collaborative problem-solving, and team-building capabilities, while also encouraging the development of practical and sustainable solutions to contemporary challenges using modern technological tools.
BENEFIT’s Chief Executive Mr. Abdulwahed AlJanahi, commented: “Our support for this educational hackathon reflects our long-term strategic vision to nurture the talents of emerging national youth and empower the next generation of accomplished female leaders in technology. By fostering creativity and innovation, we aim to contribute meaningfully to Bahrain’s comprehensive development goals and align with the aspirations outlined in the Kingdom’s Vision 2030—an ambition in which BENEFIT plays a central role.”
Professor Riyadh Yousif Hamzah, President of the Royal University for Women, commented: “This initiative reflects our commitment to advancing women in STEM fields. We're cultivating a generation of creative, solution-driven female leaders who will drive national development. Our partnership with BENEFIT exemplifies the powerful synergy between academia and private sector in supporting educational innovation.”
Hanan Abdulla Hasan, Senior Manager, PR & Communication at BENEFIT, said: “We are honoured to collaborate with RUW in supporting this remarkable technology-focused event. It highlights our commitment to social responsibility, and our ongoing efforts to enhance the digital and innovation capabilities of young Bahraini women and foster their ability to harness technological tools in the service of a smarter, more sustainable future.”
For his part, Dr. Humam ElAgha, Acting Dean of the College of Engineering and Technology at the University, said: “BuildHer CityHack 2025 embodies our hands-on approach to education. By tackling real-world problems through creative thinking and sustainable solutions, we're preparing women to thrive in the knowledge economy – a cornerstone of the University's vision.”
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