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Rockingham Donor Centre short on plasma

Jake DietschSound Telegraph
Rockingham residents are being asked to donate blood, especially plasma.
Camera IconRockingham residents are being asked to donate blood, especially plasma. Credit: News Regional Media

The Rockingham Donor Centre is low on plasma, as a nationwide blood shortage has been revealed.

Last week Australian Red Cross Lifeblood sent out an urgent appeal for 16,000 people to give blood or plasma during the next two weeks.

Supplies of O+ and A+ blood were particularly short.

The COVID-19 crisis was cited as a potential reason for the donor shortage, with more than 1200 donors cancelling or not turning up every day.

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Lifeblood executive director Cath Stone said 31,000 donations were needed every week across the country to help patients.

“We saw the absolute best of the community throughout the pandemic with donors continuing to come in, however, this recent trend of decreasing appointments and increasing cancellations is concerning,” Ms Stone said.

“Even if you don’t know what blood type you have, we still need you — we need all blood types every day.

“Our donor centres are safe to visit, with strict social distancing, cleaning and donor eligibility measures still in place.”

Ms Stone said only healthy people were eligible to give blood and Lifeblood had introduced even more stringent wellness checks in the wake of the pandemic.

A Lifeblood spokeswoman told the Telegraph the Rockingham centre was especially low on plasma and the centre needed an extra 50 donors to book before the end of the week.

“Rockingham Donor Centre needs 400 donations every week,” she said.

To book a blood or plasma donation visit lifeblood.com.au, call 13 14 95 or download the Donate Blood app.

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