EXCLUSIVE: Stocks of blood type O negative have nearly fallen to the critical two-day supply level in England. The NHS aims to maintain six days of stock for all blood types.
Kind-hearted would-be blood donors in England have been left in half-an-hour queues because of the rush to give blood. Health chiefs issued an amber alert because of dwindling stocks.
The move means trusts across England will have to start cancelling elective procedures, like hip and knee replacements, because blood supplies to hospitals cannot be guaranteed.