Nationwide Blood Drive After Hospitals Hit by Cyber Attacks

The NHS has launched an urgent appeal for blood donations across the country after a cyber attack affected IT systems at several London hospitals, with donations expected to be needed until the end of July. On Monday, NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT) asked for people with type O blood to come forward, as this type is safe to use with the majority of people. The attack affected hospitals’ ability to effectively match patients with their correct blood types at the same frequency as usual, resulting in the cancellation of operations and blood tests. The NHS is asking for both O blood types: O Negative—the “universal” blood type—because it can be given to anyone, and O Positive, because it can be given to anybody with any positive blood type. ...