Urgent calls for donations are in place (Picture: Getty)
Blood supplies in the UK are so desperately low the NHS has been forced to declare an amber alert.
This is the very first time the healthcare service has triggered such an alert after stark warnings this summer.
Urgent calls for donations are in place across the country as medics scramble to top up its bank.
A spokeswoman for the service said current overall blood stocks in the NHS stand at 3.1 days.
Levels of O type blood – one of the most common – have fallen to below two days.
O negative blood is the universal blood type, which can be given to everyone.
It is vitally important during emergencies and when the blood type of a patient is unknown.
It is unclear if hospitals will be forced to postpone planned operations (Picture: Getty)
The current amber alert is also thought to be due to ongoing staffing issues, with more staff needed to work at donor sessions.
It is unclear if hospitals will turn to cancelling planned operations if this does not change.
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This is the very first time the NHS has been forced to declare an amber alert.