NZ Blood Service struggling to meet demand as winter illness impacts donors

Media release

New Zealand Blood Service (NZBS) is asking those who are in good health to make one donation during winter as illness within regular donors severely impacts its ability to meet blood and plasma collection targets.

More than 30% of donors across Aotearoa are cancelling and rescheduling their appointments due to illness and winter chills.

“The arrival of cooler weather has unfortunately brought with it an increase in winter-related illnesses. That is side-lining a large number of our donors and means we are struggling to collect enough blood and plasma,” says NZBS National Marketing & Communications Manager Asuka Burge.

“To help boost our supplies, we’re asking those in good health who meet the donor eligibility criteria to make one blood or plasma donation this winter. It’s such a small thing to do, but it will have a huge impact.”

Blood only has a shelf-life of 35 days, and the blood service needs to collect 2,350 units each and every week to ensure adequate supply is maintained. Plasma is the gold-coloured liquid part of blood and 2,600 donations are needed every week to meet demand.

“Every 18 minutes, someone in New Zealand will need blood or plasma,” says Ms Burge. “Every time you donate, you help ensure a patient is able to receive their lifesaving treatment or surgery and there are many reasons patients need transfusions – which don’t grab news headlines. It’s the blood already on the shelves that helps patients when tragedy strikes – but an adequate supply also has to be ready to provide for the individual needs of patients that arise every day, the cancer treatment, the accident victim, the transplant patient.

“So we’re asking new donors, and people who haven’t given in a while to help by making an appointment in the coming days and weeks. Donors of all blood types are needed. What better way to get a warm glow during the chilly winter months by rolling up your sleeve and helping to save a life.”

To book an appointment to donate, visit nzblood.co.nz, download the NZ Blood App or call 0800 448 325.

Those who have never donated before are encouraged to find out if they are eligible at nzblood.co.nz and then book an appointment to donate.

Donors are asked to book an appointment to donate blood or plasma, rather than just turning up.

Appointments help manage the social distancing and flow of people in donor centres at any given time and allow NZBS to forecast supply, ensuring it is collecting enough blood types and blood products.

About New Zealand Blood Service:

New Zealand Blood Service in 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.

We rely 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 our health services to save thousands of lives.

For more information, please contact:

Asuka Burge, New Zealand Blood Service, (09) 523 6486, 027 272 6437  

Asuka.burge@nzblood.co.nz

Sandy Trigg, Network Communication, (09) 306 5811, 021 231 9406

Sandy.trigg@networkcommunication.co.nz