NHS issues critical appeal for Birmingham blood donors
Four bank holidays in just six weeks could push supply to critical levels, said the body's Blood and Transplant department. A spokesperson said: "Blood donations often drop over bank holiday weekends, and with Easter falling late this year, four bank holidays in just six weeks have placed increased pressure on blood stocks."England currently remains in Amber alert for low stocks of O negative and O positive blood. "The need for blood never stops," said Gerry Gogarty, director of Blood Supply at NHS Blood and Transplant. "We are extremely grateful to everyone who has donated so far this year, but we must act now to avoid falling behind.Blood has a shelf life of 35 days, and platelets only seven days, so it is vital stocks are constantly replenished, the organisation said.
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Shubhi Sharma, of the charity Chem Trust, said the government used lack of funding as an excuse for 'failing to prevent our farmlands from being poisoned'. She called for tighter chemical restrictions and a 'polluter pays' model. 'France has already introduced taxes for Pfas polluters. The UK should follow,' she said. The EA said sludge must not harm soil or water, and that it enforced strict rules, including through more than 4,500 farm inspections last year, resulting in more than 6,000 pollution-reducing actions. The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs said it wanted safe, sustainable sludge use and it has launched an independent water commission to review the regulatory framework in collaboration with the EA, farmers and water companies.
