Manchester attack: Blood donation centre 'has enough for arena victims' after being inundated with volunteers

'If you have an appointment to give blood in the next few days, please do your best to keep it, particularly if you are blood group O negative,' says NHS

Katie Forster
Tuesday 23 May 2017 10:02 BST
People queue to give blood at a donation centre in Manchester the morning after the attac
People queue to give blood at a donation centre in Manchester the morning after the attac

Hospitals in Manchester have enough blood supplies to treat patients including the victims of last night’s arena attack, the NHS has said.

Worried locals were urged to make an appointment to give blood at a later date after the city’s blood donation centres were inundated with volunteers.

Images shared on Twitter by a number of users appeared to show a long queue outside a Blood Donor Centre in Manchester as people rushed to help at around 9am.

At least 22 people, including minors, were killed and 59 injured when a lone male suicide bomber detonated an improvised explosive device as fans left a concert at Manchester Arena.

Witnesses reported hearing a “huge bomb-like bang” at around 10.30pm, shortly after a show by US singer Ariana Grande finished, and described glass and metal nuts on the floor.

“We are responding to last night’s tragic incident in Manchester,” said the official @GiveBloodNHS account in a post on the social network.

“We do have all the blood required for hospital patients at the present time, however we are always keen to encourage new donors to register and existing donors to book an appointment.”

“If you have an appointment to give blood in the next few days, please do your best to keep it, particularly if you are blood group O negative.”

The North West Ambulance Service NHS Trust said a total of 60 NHS ambulances attended the incident.

"The service is devastated by the attack in Manchester last night," it said in a statement. "Our staff worked tirelessly throughout the night to coordinate the large scale response with 60 ambulances attending the horrifying scene in the city."

The statement added: "In total, our clinicians treated and took 59 patients to hospital – 9 to Manchester Royal Infirmary, 6 to Salford, 6 to Wythenshawe, 12 to Manchester Children's, 6 to Stepping Hill, 8 to Royal Bolton, 7 to Royal Oldham and 5 to North Manchester.

"Approximately 60 'walking wounded' were also treated by our crews but did not go to hospital."

Mike Adamson, chief executive of British Red Cross, said the charity’s staff and volunteers were also providing ambulance support to local hospitals.

“British Red Cross staff and volunteers are providing practical and emotional support to people affected by last night’s attack at a reception centre at the Etihad stadium in Manchester,” he said.

“We are on standby to provide additional support to the emergency response as needed, and we are in regular contact with the Local Authority.

“Our hearts go out to the families and friends of those affected by this terrible attack.”

An A&E doctor at Manchester Royal Infirmary told The Guardian there were around the same number of children and adults injured in the attack.

Police have set up a helpline on 0161 856 9400 for people searching for missing concertgoers.

Greater Manchester Police chief constable Ian Hopkins, confirmed the attack was carried out by one man although at this stage police do not know if the bomber “acted alone or was part of a wider network”.

Mr Hopkins said: “This has been the most horrific incident we have had to face in Greater Manchester and one that we all hoped we would never see.

Manchester attack: What we know so far

“Families and many young people were out to enjoy a concert at the Manchester Arena and have lost their lives.

“Our thoughts are with those 22 victims that we now know have died, the 59 people who have been injured and their loved ones.

“We continue to do all we can to support them.”

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