One month after a shortage of blood bags caused chaos at the National Blood Transfusion Service (Blood Bank), a shipment has arrived in the island.

More than 8,000 bags, which were not received because of a delay in November, arrived December 16.

"In addition to the stock we currently have, this shipment will now see the Blood Bank operating with adequate supply of blood bags, which will last for the next three months," Dr Evadne Williams, director of the Blood Bank, was quoted as saying in a press release issued Tuesday.

The release did not state the source of the shipment.

Williams added that the Ministry of Health is currently going through a new tendering regime and has requested that the first shipment of blood bags under this process be delivered by mid-February.

The ministry assumed direct management of the procurement of blood bags from the Blood Bank after a Gleaner article revealed that the institution was experiencing a severe shortage.

Some collection centres had to turn away potential donors.

At the time, health minister Rudyard Spencer condemned the story, arguing that it was irresponsible. He however later recanted after his checks proved the newspaper right.

To help relieve the shortage of blood bags, the ministry received supplies from Food For the Poor, the United States Red Cross and Trinidad and Tobago.

nadisha.hunter@gleanerjm.com