Plea to blood donors after Manchester concert blast

Blood donors are being encouraged to keep their appointments to give blood following the explosion at a concert in Manchester.
The scene at Manchester Royal Infirmary as the death toll from the Manchester bomb attack rose to 22 with 59 injuredThe scene at Manchester Royal Infirmary as the death toll from the Manchester bomb attack rose to 22 with 59 injured
The scene at Manchester Royal Infirmary as the death toll from the Manchester bomb attack rose to 22 with 59 injured

NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT) said it has enough blood stocks at present so no additional drives are planned.

But it encouraged donors who have already planned to donate in coming days to keep their appointments - particularly if they are blood group O negative.

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O negative blood is rare but it is the only blood type that can be given to anyone, regardless of their blood type.

Mike Stredder, director of blood donation at NHSBT, said: "We are responding to last night's events in Manchester. Our thoughts are with the people affected by this tragic incident.

"Thank you for thinking of giving blood at this time. We do have all the blood required for hospital patients at the present time.

"If you have an appointment to give blood in the next few days, please do your best to keep it, particularly if you are blood group O negative."

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Meanwhile, overnight health workers visiting Manchester offered support to local hospitals treating the wounded.

Kirsty Withers, a theatre clinical manager at University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay (UHMB) NHS Foundation Trust, offered assistance to Manchester Royal Infirmary online, writing: "We are visiting for a health conference from morecambe bay trust tomorrow 3 Theatre ODPs available if needed."

Stuart Hosking-Durn, an emergency preparedness, resilience and response professional with UHMB, also used Twitter to offer help, posting: "do you need extra hands, we have staff in Manchester, have ID and can attend."

Mancunian GP Faizan Awan tweeted: "If you need any help doing clinical work either on wards or minors, let me know. Can be with you in 10 minutes."

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North West Ambulance NHS Trust sent 60 ambulances to the scene at Manchester Arena.

It said that 59 casualties had been taken to nearby hospitals and a number of walking wounded were treated at the scene.

Greater Manchester Police said the injured were being treated at six local hospitals.

Niall Dickson, chief executive of the NHS Confederation, which represents health service organisations in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, said: "Our thoughts are with everyone affected by this shocking tragedy.

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"Together with the other emergency services, frontline NHS responders, managers and other staff have once again responded superbly to a major incident and are providing the treatment, care and support that is needed.

"It is at times like these that as a society we really appreciate how important the health service is in all our lives."

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