Australia’s largest blood collection centre, Lifeblood, is urgently seeking Queenslanders to donate
Australia’s largest blood collection centre is urgently seeking Queenslanders to donate after recent centre closures and a surge in hospital orders left blood supplies critically low. How you can help.
Cairns
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Cairns residents are urged to step forward and help save lives as Australia’s largest blood collection centre faces a critical shortage.
Empty chairs and vacant donation rooms, caused by ex-Cyclone Alfred, have left thousands without the blood they urgently need.
Australian Red Cross Lifeblood spokeswoman Belinda Smetioukh is calling on all eligible Australians to take just 60 minutes out of their week to help replenish these critical supplies.
“Centres in Queensland urgently need 6000 people to donate blood this week to help replenish critically low supplies,” she said.
Almost 4000 bags of blood are required daily by hospitals to support patients undergoing trauma treatment, major surgery, cancer care, childbirth, and a range of other medical conditions.
With lives at stake, hospitals are calling for more donations before the situation becomes even more dire.
“We preemptively sent extra supplies of blood products, including platelets, to hospitals in the impacted region ahead of Alfred’s arrival, but many of those platelets are now close to expiring,” Ms Smetioukh said.
The impact of ex-Cyclone Alfred has been felt across the region, with a surge in hospital orders and the unprecedented closure of donor centres in Queensland leading to the critical shortage.
As supplies near expiration, 1500 donations are needed in Queensland, with 100 specifically requested from Cairns residents for blood and plasma donations.
Lifeblood centres were closed from Thursday, March 6, to Sunday, March 9, leading to the cancellation of 3500 appointments across Queensland and northern New South Wales.
A further 330 appointments were cancelled on Monday, adding even more strain on already stretched blood stocks.
Ms Smetioukh said the focus is now on replenishing stocks of platelets, which are made from blood donations and have a shelf life of just five days after being tested.
“Platelets are used to help people undergoing chemotherapy, or to stop bleeding during surgery or after major trauma,” she said.
Many of these supplies are nearing their expiration date, making the situation even more urgent.
“Between the shortfall in donations and the pre-emptive drain on our blood stocks, we now urgently need to replenish supplies across the country,” Ms Smetioukh added.
“We’re asking anyone who may be eligible to donate to book an appointment now. We especially need new donors to help fill the gap,
“Our regular donors helped us through the Christmas and New Year period, but many of them won’t be eligible to donate for a while. New donors will be essential to help us through the coming weeks.”
Despite the current challenges, Lifeblood has reopened most donor centres in Queensland, however, some remain inaccessible due to ongoing road closures.
Ms Smetioukh said it is understandable that many donors impacted by the cyclone may be unable to attend their appointments as they focus on their families and homes in the coming days and weeks.
“Understandably, many donors will be unable to get to their appointments, but we’ve opened additional appointments in other states to help make up for the shortfall,” she said.
Lifeblood is calling on the Australian public to act now to ensure hospitals have enough supplies for those in need.
To book a donation call 13 14 95, visit lifeblood.com.au or download the Donate Blood App.
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