nhs - losing blood
WORKERS, JANUARY 2004 ISSUE
Stocks of blood held by the National Blood Transfusion NHS Trust are in decline and have been since early 2003. There are various factors causing this decline. The age profile of donors is increasing, while there seems to be a problem in recruiting young donors. Also the facilities used are often Dickensian.
One other fascinating factor in the decline is related to donor collections at large industrial and office complexes. As large concentrations of workers have been decimated during the last 20 years, the availability and volume from smaller sites cannot make up the shortfall.
Loss of industry is equating with loss of blood: life support systems in Britain are being closed down.