Townsville Donor Centre calling for plasma donations to meet growing demand

Launching their Christmas Blood Blitz campaign, the Australian Red Cross are looking for more plasma donations, due to an ageing population causing the demand to be at an all time-high.

Herbert MP Phillip Thompson rolls up his sleeve for the Christmas Blood Blitz, with help from RN Angela Simon and Lifeblood North Queensland relationship manager Gwendolyne Camaret at the Townsville Lifeblood Donor Centre. Picture: Evan Morgan

The call is out for the Townsville community to roll up sleeves and join the annual Christmas Blood Blitz which started yesterday (December 18).

Launched by the Australian Red Cross Lifeblood more than 3,500 blood and plasma donors are still needed between December 18 and January 2 to help those in need.

The Townsville Lifeblood Donor Centre specialises in plasma donations which are used to save lives in 18 different ways from immune deficiencies to severe burns.

Herbert MP Phillip Thompson was one of the first to volunteer and said plasma stocks were running low, not just in Townsville but around the country.

“I reached out and asked ‘how can I could I help’ and they said, ‘we’d love you to come help to launch the national drive on to get people in and to give plasma’,” he said.

Herbert MP Phillip Thompson rolls up his sleeve for the Christmas Blood Blitz, with help from RN Angela Simon at the Townsville Life Blood Centre. Picture: Evan Morgan

“So I’ve come in today to roll up the sleeve and give some plasma and encourage others throughout Townsville to visit this fantastic new facility, to be able to give plasma that is lifesaving.”

The MP said it was vitally important for the Townsville community to get behind this blitz.

“I’ve met young children who needed plasma donations to when they’re going through chemotherapy, when they’ve had rare cancers, and without the plasma donation, they wouldn’t be here today.

“I would hate to hear of another family be at the hospital or coming from somewhere else, staying at the Ronald McDonald House and fearful that there isn’t the plasma needed to help their child fight these cancers.

“I’d like to see more people in towns will get behind this fantastic course. It is leading into to Christmas, if you’ve got time off, if you’ve got a spare half an hour, come down, get signed up and give some plasma,” he said.

Lifeblood North Queensland relationship manager Gwendolyn Camaret said while Australia took a break over Christmas but the demand for life saving blood products never stopped.

“We always do new patients out there, they still need blood products from us, from life blood. So we need to keep the supplies up,” she said.

To donate at the Townsville Life Blood Centre at Domain in Garbutt register online or call 131495.

Originally published as Townsville Donor Centre calling for plasma donations to meet growing demand