RED CELL SHORTAGE - RETURN TO PRE-AMBER STATUS ON 8 NOVEMBER - Message from NHS Blood and Transplant on 8 November

Since declaring an Amber alert for red cells on 12 October, our stock levels have improved, and we are returning to Pre-Amber status from 8 November.

This has been possible largely thanks to your support. You are no longer required to postpone any elective surgery, but we request that you continue to transfuse patients appropriately using patient blood management guidance.

We will remain in Pre-Amber status until 2023. This remains subject to stocks remaining strong and is dependent on continued good practice and application of clinical guidance, along with success in recruitment to our donor collection teams.

To help, please consider if you need to increase your stock holding back to recommended Blood Stocks Management Scheme levels.

For the next 4 weeks we will continue to apply the 25% credit for ad hoc delivery charges.

Hospital Action:

1. If you need to increase your stock levels, please do this gradually over the next 4 weeks. This will help us manage any sudden changes in demand.

2. Continue actions to conserve red cell stocks in-line with NHSBT Guidance for a Pre-Amber shortage.

3. You are no longer required to postpone any elective surgery.

4. Please continue to review stock holding and submit blood stock levels and wastage data via VANESA.

We would like to thank you again for your support during this period. We apologise for the extra work and inconvenience these restrictions have caused.

We will continue to provide regular updates throughout the shortage period. If you have any questions, please contact your Customer Service Manager or Patient Blood Management Practitioner.

Alternatively phone our Response Desk on 0208 201 3107, 9am to 5pm Monday to Friday; we’ll be pleased to help.

Please cascade to laboratory and clinical staff as appropriate.

Dr Farrukh Shah, 
Medical Director, Transfusion, NHS B&T 

Professor Cheng-Hock Toh
Chair of the NBTC NHS Blood and Transplant National Blood Transfusion Committee