The National Blood Transfusion Service is in dire straits, with not enough blood to cover a serious emergency, and calling for blood donations.

It said yesterday in a message for urgent radio transmission that it needed blood of all types.

The situation was critical and operations would cease soon, the service added. If a serious situation arose, there would not be enough blood to go round. Everyone feeling healthy was requested to call at the blood donation centre to help.

The centre is situated near St Luke’s Hospital in Guardamangia and opens between 8am and 6pm every day, including public holidays and on Sundays, the service said.

Callers need to present their identity card.