The Irish Blood Transfusion Service is seeking 15,000 new donors this year to “ensure the stability of the national supply”.
It said that the demand for blood is constant and on any given day 200 patients receive transfusions in Irish hospitals.
IBTS Director of Donor Services and Logistics Paul McKinney said: “The IBTS needs an additional 15,000 new donors this year and every year to ensure the national blood supply remains secure and stable.
“We supply blood products 365 days a year and we issued blood and platelets for transfusion to hospitals over the Christmas and New Year holiday period.
“We now need to urgently replenish these stocks, so we are urging existing and new donors please to give a priceless gift this new year, the gift of blood.”
Mr McKinney said the services particularly needs donors with D negative blood types – that is A, B and O negative (the universal blood group).
“We are also asking people of African heritage to become blood donors, which will help us to diversify our donor pool and better match blood for specific patients,” he added.
Existing donors are encouraged to book online and new donors are asked to register their interest.
