The NHS has launched an urgent appeal for O blood-type donors to book appointments across England after a ransomware attack on a major pathology firm disrupted blood transfusions at several London hospitals. The cyber-attack, attributed to the Russian criminal group Qilin, targeted Synnovis, forcing hospitals including King’s College, Guy’s and St Thomas’, the Royal Brompton, and Evelina London Children’s Hospital to declare a critical incident and cancel operations.
NHS Blood and Transplant stated that the affected hospitals cannot match patients’ blood at the usual frequency, making O-type blood—safe for all patients—essential for surgeries and procedures requiring transfusions. With blood having a shelf life of only 35 days, stocks must be continually replenished, and more units than usual will be needed over the coming weeks.
O-negative, the universal blood type, can be given to anyone and is used in emergencies or when a patient’s blood type is unknown. Only 8% of the population have O-negative, yet it accounts for about 15% of hospital orders. O-positive, the most common type (35% of donors), can be given to anyone with a positive blood type, benefiting 76% of the population.
Dr Gail Miflin, chief medical officer at NHS Blood and Transplant, urged donors: “To support London hospitals to carry out more surgeries and to provide the best care we can for all patients, we need more O-negative and O-positive donors than usual. Please book an urgent appointment to give blood at one of our 25 town and city donor centres which currently have good appointment availability.”
Professor Stephen Powis, medical director for NHS England, added: “NHS staff are continuing to go above and beyond to minimise the significant disruption to patients following the ransomware cyber-attack… To help London staff support and treat more patients, they need access to O-negative and O-positive blood, so if one of these is your blood type, please come forward.”
There are around 13,000 appointments available nationally this week, with 3,400 in London. New donors are also welcome. For more information, search GiveBlood online or visit Blood.co.uk.
