SW blood shortage critical

The South West is facing a critical blood shortage unless an additional 120 donors can be found within the next fortnight, following one of the worst flu seasons in years.

Red Cross Bunbury Donor Centre manager Sue McKenzie said 13 per cent of donors had cancelled their appointments during the past month.

“The blood that is donated at the Bunbury Donor Centre is processed in Perth and then distributed to where it is needed including to the South West,” she said.

“When you consider the region has a growing population, the blood is definitely needed.”

“We need 120 additional appointments over the next fortnight to reach our targets because we try to pre-empt the needs of blood recipients.

“But if people do not come forward then there could be a shortage of blood and blood products.

“The cold and flu season has affected us badly in the past month because it has extended for longer than expected.”

Ms McKenzie said the centre was affected by the flu season each year, but 2015 was the worst she had seen for a long time.

WA Country Health Service South West regional director Kerry Winsor said the South West had experienced an increase in flu cases since the beginning of May.

“There has been a big spike in flu cases since the last week of July with the number of confirmed cases reported in July double the number in June and a similar trend has continued in August,” she said.