Hospital demand for blood is reported to have been consistently high, particularly since the Easter and May bank holidays.

According to the Irish Blood Transfusion Service, the current levels of blood supply nationwide are very poor due to a lack of donations in recent weeks.

Director of donor services and logistics, Paul McKinney, said the supply of O positive blood is "very low" at 3.5 days.

The Irish Blood Transfusion Service (IBTS) has issued an urgent appeal for people to donate blood