First ever amber alert for NHS blood supplies could mean cancelled surgery

Hospitals ordered to protect stocks as they fall to critical level amid shortage of staff to take donations

The NHS has declared its first ever amber alert over blood supplies after they fell to a critically low level, prompting warnings that hospitals in England may be forced to cancel operations to protect their stocks.

An NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT) official confirmed that overall blood stocks in NHS England were at three days' worth and levels of O-type had dropped to less than two days'. The normal standard is to hold at least six days' worth of blood in stock at all times.