Blood Service needs O positive blood

Some Blood Donor Centres around Auckland have extended their opening hours and increased their appointment slots to accommodate more donors during the next week.

New Zealand Blood Service is appealing to fit and healthy eligible Auckland residents with an O positive blood type to book an appointment to donate blood.

Seasonal high-rates of coughs, colds and influenza and the one-week stand down period after illness have resulted in significantly less donations over the winter season.

Some Blood Donor Centres around Auckland have extended their opening hours and increased their appointment slots to accommodate more donors during the next week.

Asuka Burge, National Manager Marketing and Communications for New Zealand Blood Service says, "NZBS operates on a very tight 'right donor, right time, right type, right place' policy to manage blood stock levels.

"Currently we are experiencing high numbers of regular donors being too sick to donate, which has been compounded by unusually high usage of O+ blood in hospitals. Together this has left us with particularly low levels of O positive blood.

"We're asking people to start the donation process by using our appointment booking service to help us manage our stock levels during this appeal. Also, if you're unsure of your blood type, give us a call to find out if you have donated before, or if you are a new donor, once you have donated you'll get a blood donor card with your blood type on it.

"If you cannot donate, you can help by encouraging your friends and family to instead, and by pledging your support via the NZ Blood Service website or Facebook page," says Asuka.

Next week, blood drives will be taking place in the Auckland CBD at Rendezvous, Mercure and Pullman hotels, in addition to usual blood donor appointments at Takapuna, Epsom and Manukau Donor Centres.