Blood donations decreased by 3 per cent in 2012, despite an increase in attendance, the Irish Blood Transfusion Service has reported.
Over 177,000 people attended blood donation clinics around Ireland in 2012, with just over 138,000 allowed to donate.
In 2011, more than 142,000 donations were accepted, while there were more than 152,000 donations in 2010.
Despite the slightly lower donation rate last year, Irish Blood Transfusion Service’s operations director Paddy Bowler said that 2013 began with a surge in support.
“The blood supply over the Christmas and new year period was quite tight, but the situation has improved over the past 10 days as people have responded to our call to give blood and currently, supply in the major groups of O positive, A positive and O negative are at between 5 and 6 days,” he said.
A spokeswoman for the IBTS said the difference between the attendance and donation rate is due to the fact that many people who attend clinics are unable to donate for different reasons.
The most common reasons include low haemoglobin, recent medical investigations, the donor having a cold sore, feeling ill and having recently visited a tropical location.