The NHS is appealing for Aberdeen blood donors, as the recent heavy snowfall has contributed to supplies of some blood groups running low.
The Scottish National Blood Transfusion Service (SNBTS) has issued the urgent appeal as donor centres, including those in Aberdeen, Dundee, Edinburgh, Glasgow, and Inverness, have experienced significantly lower attendance, compounding an existing long-term decline in donor participation.
Supplies of six out of the eight vital blood groups – O+, A+, B+, AB+, A-, and O- – are currently facing shortages. As of Tuesday, January 13, 2026, the SNBTS reported a three-day supply of AB+, four-day supplies for O+, A+, and B+, and five-day supplies for O-, A-, and B-. The service aims to maintain a six-day stock for each blood type to meet patient demand across Scottish hospitals.
Dr Sylvia Armstrong-Fisher, SNBTS Head of Territory for the Northern Arch, underscored the continuous demand for donations.
“Every day, Scotland needs around 450 blood donors to meet the needs of patients in hospitals across the country. This does not take a rest due to bad weather,.We are asking the people of Scotland to book your appointment now and help us rebuild supplies.”
She added: “It is very important you book to donate in one of our Donor Centres as they have been quiet. We have plenty of appointments available. During bad weather donor centres remain accessible, so we are relying on these venues and donors at this time. This situation is set to continue with adverse weather and flooding, so please do book an appointment if you can.”
The perishable nature of blood products makes regular donations vital. Whole blood has a shelf life of up to 35 days, while platelets, crucial for patients undergoing chemotherapy or trauma, last merely seven days. Producing one unit of platelets requires four “whole blood” donations, specifically from O+, A+, O-, and A- blood types. Furthermore, highly vulnerable patients, such as babies, require freshly donated blood, with units for neonate intra-uterine transfusions never exceeding five days old.
This immediate challenge is set against a backdrop of a “concerning” long-term downward trend in donor participation. Debbie McNaughton, Associate Director of Donor & Transport Services at SNBTS, highlighted the severity of the issue, noting that “less than 2% of the population are actively giving blood.”
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She elaborated on the demographic shift: “In the last 10 years we have seen a drop of 24% – which is just under 30,000 donors. We are also seeing a particular challenge around younger people coming forward.”
While regular donors have maintained the blood supply by giving more frequently, McNaughton stressed the vital need for new and lapsed donors to step forward.
Appointments can be booked online via www.scotblood.co.uk or by calling 0345 90 90 999.
