Blood donation is an amazing volunteer-based community service that helps some of our sickest patients survive, from the not yet born to end of life care and everywhere in-between.

In fact one in three Australians will need a blood product during their life, be it a transfusion (a patient receiving donated blood ), volume (plasma, blood without the cells provides much needed proteins and fluid) or purified blood products (immunoglobulin for children with weak immune systems or Anti-D for some pregnant ladies).

The Red Cross Lifeblood service relies on volunteers to supply the blood, plasma and platelets used, and stocks can dwindle at times, especially during school holidays and winter. With the new coronavirus it is vitally important to have a regular supply of blood and to keep donors healthy, so they have extra procedures in place to screen volunteers even more than their already stringent processes.

As your local GPs, we would be happy to discuss donation with you. It’s also a great way to find out your blood type if you don’t know it yet!

We know the Lifeblood service would appreciate your donation if you are able. If this is something you are interested in then please talk with your GP about eligibility, give Lifeblood a call, or jump online.

Albany is lucky enough to be one of the few rural centres with a donation clinic. They have facilities to take both whole blood and plasma, so please take advantage of it.

This article has been written by Dr Jonathan Mortimer