Dedicated professional blood donor Andrew Hay donates every fortnight, and has been donating for 35 years.
Fewer Canberrans are taking the time to donate blood with donor numbers falling for the third consecutive year as the need for plasma increases in our hospitals.
The number of blood donors in the ACT has fallen from 15,014 in 2011 to 13,026, while the number of plasma donors has increased by 37 per cent since 2010.
Red Cross blood service spokesman Shaun Inguanzo said he was concerned by the declining number of blood donors but was more alarmed by need for more plasma in our hospitals.
“We will always need whole blood donors as there is no replacement for fresh blood,” he said.
“However, this year, we are focussed on recruiting more plasma donors to help ensure Australian patients have access to the products they need most.”
There are now 2471 plasma donors registered in the ACT but any increase has not been enough to meet demand.
Plasma, a component of human blood, can be used to create 18 different treatments and is a potential life-saver for cancer patients, burn victims and people with blood disorders.
“The ACT has roughly the same number of donors that it had in 2010, but the breakdown of donation type is markedly different due to two critical factors: less demand for red blood cells, and an increase in demand for plasma,” he said.
Mr Inguanzo said the demand for red cells had declined internationally due to improvements in the way medical professionals use blood.
“In recent years, Australia and the rest of the world has begun to see the benefit of patient blood management in hospitals,” he said.
“With clinicians using donated blood more responsibly, the blood services need only collect what is required.”
During 2013/14, the Red Cross issued 60,000 less red cell units than the previous year – a drop of 7.9 per cent.
While Mr Inguanzo expected the number of red cells issued to medical staff would continue to fall by 3 per cent in 2015, the demand for plasma is set to increase.
Red Cross spokeswoman Sally Gavin said the mobile clinic in Tuggeranong collected 103 blood donations during the Christmas and New Year period, which saved an estimated 300 lives.
Ms Gavin said the first donor of 2015 was the “very dedicated” Andrew Hay who completed his 501st donation at 7.30am on January 2.
Plasma donation takes about 45 minutes although the Red Cross encourage people to allow one and a half hours for interviews and post-donation refreshments.
– with Kimberley Granger