Information uncovered by Mid-Scotland and Fife MSP Murdo Fraser has shown that stocks of O negative blood, which can be transfused to all patients, dipped below the recommended 6 day stock 48 times last year.
Last week during General Question time Murdo pressed the Scottish Government to review their current blood donation guidelines in order to avoid similar shortages.
Murdo wants to see a review of current regulations which prevent people who have received blood since 1980 from ever donating again despite subsequent decades of good health.
Since 2009, nearly 225,000 patients in Scotland have received a blood transfusion and are now barred from ever donating blood.
Commenting Murdo Fraser MSP said:
“In Scotland nearly 40,000 people receive a transfusion every year and as a result are barred from ever giving blood again. I am one of these people. After receiving a transfusion in the early 90s I am no longer allowed to donate despite decades of good health.
“During the winter months blood stocks run low and to guard against these pressures I would like to see the Scottish Government review current guidelines.
“Only 9.4% of people in Scotland have O negative blood which can be transfused to all blood types, therefore it is increasingly important that these people are able to donate.
“Despite what the Government said last week, I think it is important that the current guidelines are reviewed in order to increase the number of donors from their current level which is 4% of the population.”