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Canadian Blood Services Facing Catch-22

Thursday, 29 July 2021 14:50

By Linda Morgan

The need for blood is on the rise, but social distancing requirements mean a cap on the number of donors allowed at clinics.

Canada's blood supply is feeling the strain as several provinces begin to lift COVID-19 restrictions. 

Tracy Smith, Director of Donor Relations & Collections for Canadian Blood Services, says the demand for blood is rising as hospitals begin catching up with the surgical backlog. 

"You can imagine that they are trying to catch up with some of the backlogs, some of those surgeries that were put on hold during the pandemic. They’re trying to get those in ... (and) blood products are becoming more in demand."

The need for blood reduced dramatically about 16 months ago, when the pandemic forced the cancellation of most surgeries. 

Smith says while the agency has made changes such as extending hours at some clinics, there's still a limit on the number of donors allowed inside at once. 

"We're only accepting appointments from donors. We're not accepting walk-ins in order to manage our physical distancing. It's more important for donors to fill the appointments for us."

Smith notes the need for O negative blood is particularly high, as it's the universal blood type most commonly used in emergency rooms. 

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