Lifeline Donor Newsletter February 2023

Dear Donors,

We hope you and your families had a lovely Christmas and New Year, and stayed safe during the recent extreme weather events that hit New Zealand. While some of us enjoyed a summer, others are still waiting for it to arrive. Let’s hope it comes soon before a change of season.
Speaking of change, a very warm welcome to our first edition of Lifeline for 2023,  which you’ll now be receiving more often .

There’s a lot of great things happening at New Zealand Blood Service so we want to keep you, our valued donors, regularly informed about what we’re doing and why. And importantly, share stories of Kiwi’s  who benefit from the amazing things you do; giving blood. giving plasma and giving hope to those who need it.  

So make a cup of tea and enjoy reading this edition of Lifeline. 
Thank you for your support and commitment to helping save lives. We appreciate it. 

Ngā mihi, 
The Team at New Zealand Blood Service

The need for blood and plasma doesn’t go away, so we thought we’d focus this month is on highlighting the ongoing need and growing demand for plasma. Learn more.
Kiwis can donate plasma more often than blood - every two weeks. That can be a big ask for some people. So, just like you buy a new toothbrush each month or change the batteries in your smoke alarm twice a year when we change our clocks for daylight savings, we’re calling for people to donate plasma at the turn of each new season. That way it’s easier to remember to donate and can help it to become a regular habit. Learn about plasma.  

We have so many wonderful stories to share showing our appreciation for those who donate blood and plasma every day to help save lives. One special story we’d like to shine a spotlight on in this issue is  Marty and Graeme’s story

Maryse is one of many grateful donor recipients. Within a year, she faced not one but two unseen emergencies. Hear her amazing story.

You can check out more amazing stories here

New Digs for our Waikato Blood Bank

We’ve upgraded facilities where your blood is stored and issued to patients who need them.
New purpose-built facilities in Waikato Hospital offers a welcome upgrade for the scientists and technicians who work there.

Technical Services Director Mandy Suddes says the purpose-built facility on the Waikato Hospital site offers a welcome upgrade for the 18 scientists and technicians who will work there.
“After 15 years, the team is moving from a now-too-small, lower ground floor location in the Waiora building to a space that is around double the size,” she says.
The facility includes dispensing windows for patients, a meeting/training room, a staffroom (the previous one was tiny), office space for the Team Leader, Transfusion Medical Specialist, Transfusion Nurse Specialist and Registrar, and a change room – features absent from the old blood bank.

Annual Review

Another way we keep you informed about what’s happening at New Zealand Blood Service is to share our recently published Annual Report “We are whanau”. It contains a variety of information to summarise the past year, including amazing stories from some of our donors like you.