Give Blood clinic returns to Limerick village for first time since 2019

The Irish Blood Transfusion Service returns to Foynes this Sunday for the first time since Covid.

The last Foynes Blood Donation Clinic was held in September 2019.

The Irish Blood Transfusion Service (IBTS) are appealing to the “many committed blood donors” in Foynes to give blood as their clinic returns to the area for the first time since 2019.

The IBTS say they need to collect 3,000 units of blood every week to maintain the national blood supply and reopening the Foynes clinic this Sunday will help this.

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IBTS Recruitment Executive Alex O’Connor said: “Our blood donors save lives day in, day out, every day of the year. The IBTS are delighted to be able to provide this facility locally in Foynes once again and look forward to welcoming existing Donors and also greeting new Donors this Sunday.

“The issue with blood is that no one knows who will need it when they will need it, how much they may need, or what type they require. We are continuing to experience high demand for blood from hospitals. Stocks of O Neg, B Neg and A Neg are low. We are urging donors to make and keep appointments so that the hospital demand for blood can be met,” he said.

Upcoming clinics in Limerick include Foynes Community Centre from this Sunday, April 16, between 11.45am to 3pm and Coláiste Iósaef in Kilmallock from Monday, April 17 to Wednesday, April 19 between the hours of 5.45pm and 9pm.

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Approximately 1000 people in Ireland get blood transfusions every week.

Transfusions can happen for a variety of reasons - cancer treatment, surgery, car accidents, and childbirth complications to name a few.

According to the IBTS one in four of us will need a blood transfusion in our lifetime, 67% of donated blood is used to treat cancer patients and people with blood disorders, 27% of donated blood is used in surgery and emergency situations, 6% of donated blood is used to treat blood loss after childbirth and to help premature babies, 100% of donated blood is precious and saves lives in Ireland every day.