Sir, - I noted with great interest, the television appeal by the Blood Transfusion Service Board on the night of May 28th seeking extra donors for the supply of much needed blood products to keep up with hospital demands.
I had attended the blood bank earlier that day to donate at 12.40 p.m. There was a large crowd present with a long delay. I finished giving my donation at 2.10 p.m. During this hour and a half there were from two to five beds in operation. Many people left the premises due to restricted lunch break. Pelican House was grossly understaffed. At one stage, when only two beds were in operation, the sample testing staff nurse left her post to give a helping hand with donations.
I then noted the opening hours of such an important service, which was seeking extra public donations: closed Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Bank Holiday Monday. With new opening hours, Pelican House is open from Monday to Thursday and closed for three days. Is it a wonder that there is a shortage of blood to our hospitals? - Yours, etc., Vincent Dolan,
Palmerstown, Dublin 20.