This week, there have been warnings about blood shortages in both Region Skåne and Västra Götaland Region.
According to TV4 News, there is an acute blood shortage in at least one blood group in at least 12 out of 21 regions. In an additional three regions, there is a low supply of at least one blood group.
If there is not enough blood, planned operations will have to be cancelled, but we are not there yet. There will always be blood available for acute operations, says Linda Paulson, acting head of blood operations in Västra Götaland to TV4.
Blood can only be stored for six weeks, and the hospital needs to have a stockpile of blood to be prepared for trauma and disaster situations. Blood is needed, among other things, in accidents, cancer treatments, and complicated births.
The summer holidays and travel abroad lead to fewer people donating blood during the summer.
