New Zealanders keep calm and carry on donating

Donors are asked to make future bookings to help maintain stock levels beyond April.

New Zealand Blood Service (NZBS) continues to be able to maintain healthy blood stock levels during the Level 4 COVID-19 lockdown thanks to the commitment of the country’s donors.

Appointment numbers across donor centres and mobile drives are robust, and NZBS is now taking appointments from 27th April onwards.

“Across New Zealand demand for blood has dropped by about 20%, but that still means we currently need to collect around 3,500 donations every week which includes blood and plasma donations,” says Asuka Burge, New Zealand Blood Service National Marketing and Communications Manager.

“It’s great to see appointment slots so full both at donor centres and mobile drives, and we need donors to keep these appointments unless they are feeling unwell. If a donor currently hasn’t booked to donate, we are asking them to help us maintain stock levels as we move into May by booking appointments from 27th April onwards.” 

• Blood stock levels currently remain at a healthy level
• NZBS is currently booking appointments across the country from 27th April onwards
• NZBS needs eligible donors who are fit and healthy to keep appointments and continue to donate during the Level 4 lockdown
• Travel to a nearby donor centre or mobile blood drive is considered essential travel
• Donor centres and mobile drives are safe places to visit
• NZBS is asking donors NOT to travel long distances to get to a donor centres or mobile drive
• NZBS is advising donors over 70 years of age to follow Ministry of Health guidelines and stay safe at home.
• Booking an appointment is essential.  Donors without appointments will be turned away as appointments help manage the flow of people in donor centres at any given time, and allow NZBS to forecast supply, ensuring it is collecting sufficient quantities of blood types and blood products.

The latest advice from the Ministry of Health is that phlebotomy staff are at low risk of transmission. Although there has been no formal change in PPE guidelines for phlebotomy staff, NZBS has instructed its staff to use masks in the following settings:

• Donor floor for staff who are in direct contact with donors (nurses, donor technicians and reception/ admin staff);
• Blood banks when interacting with hospital staff, dispensing to patients and visiting other clinical areas;
• Processing laboratories when dispensing to patients;
• Logistics when delivering products to hospital sites and interacting with hospital team members;
• Cleaners who are working in clinical areas, communal areas or bathrooms.

The need for blood is constant.  There is no substitute for blood; blood donors save lives.

For more information on donating blood during the COVID-19 lockdown, visit https://www.nzblood.co.nz/give-blood/covid-19-updates/

NZBS will continue to send out regular updates on blood stock levels during the Level 4 lockdown period.  Please note this information is correct as of 09/04/20.

About NZBS:

New Zealand Blood Service (NZBS) is a not-for-profit Crown entity responsible for the collection, processing, testing and storage and distribution of all blood and blood products in New Zealand. 

NZBS relies on voluntary and non-remunerated blood donations from individuals around the country in order to provide a constant supply of precious blood and blood products used by health services to save thousands of lives.

For more information please contact:

Asuka Burge, New Zealand Blood Service, 09 523 6486, 0272 726 437 
Asuka.burge@nzblood.co.nz

Sandy Trigg, Network Communication, (09) 306 5811, 021 231 9406
Sandy.trigg@networkcommunication.co.nz

Released on behalf of New Zealand Blood Service by Network Communication