More opportunities to donate blood in BOP

File Image.

New Zealand Blood Service is announcing it will more than double the opportunities to donate and the frequency of visits by the service to Rotorua with the launch an additional mobile blood drive team that will service the Bay of Plenty, Franklin, Hawke's Bay and Taranaki regions.

The additional mobile drive team will be visiting the Distinction Hotel-Tawa & Rimu on 390 Fenton Street on August 9 and 10.

It will return on August 31 until September 2, and monthly there after.

Rotorua currently has more than 1000 dedicated blood donors, and with the extra mobile blood drives, NZBS expects this number to grow.

"We are thrilled to be adding additional mobile blood drives to these regions. We know the need for blood and plasma are constant, and demand in New Zealand for these lifesaving products will keep growing," says New Zealand Blood Service director of Donor Services, Doug Gallagher.

"With the additional mobile blood drives we have the opportunity to recruit more people to join our amazing donor community.

"Across New Zealand, nearly 50 per cent of all whole blood donations are donated via a mobile blood drive. It is a safe and easy way to collect blood in many parts of the country."

The additional mobile blood drive team, which is based out of the NZBS's Hamilton Donor Centre, will be part of a service that visits key areas across the central North Island.

The mobile drive will be visiting New Plymouth, Napier, Rotorua, and Pukekohe each on a monthly basis.

All of these locations have been carefully chosen based on logistical, resource, and population factors, including current donor numbers and potential future growth in the areas.

Donors in these areas, existing and new, will have more appointment options, making it easier for them to donate regularly.

With more than 30,000 Kiwis needing lifesaving blood, plasma, and platelets each year, every donation counts.

Selecting the ideal region to add additional mobile blood drives has not been an easy one.

"While we would like to visit as many towns in New Zealand as possible, the reality is there are a lot of factors to consider to make these mobile blood drives viable," says Doug.

"We need to know that the areas we choose can support a monthly blood drive and meet daily collection requirements."

NZBS needs to collect more than 4000 donations every week nationally, however, less than four per cent of the eligible adult population currently donate.

By adding four additional regular blood drives to the central North Island region, donors in the area will be able to donate more regularly, and there will be additional opportunities for new donors to join the blood donation community.

One blood donation can be separated into three components for transfusion - red blood cells, plasma and platelets - which can save up to three lives.

To become a donor or make a booking, visit www.nzblood.co.nz, download the NZ Blood App, or call 0800 448 325.

You may also like....

0 comments

Leave a Comment


You must be logged in to make a comment.