THE Kempsey Red Cross blood collection service will close at the end of this month, forcing potential blood donors to travel to Port Macquarie, Coffs Harbour, Armidale, Taree or Tamworth to give blood.
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The Red Cross said the closure reflected the changing need for blood plasma instead of red blood cell products.
New technology means plasma can now be extracted when the blood is donated, with the red blood cells returned to the donor.
This changing technology means older style whole blood donation services, such as that in Kempsey, are no longer required.
An extra 9000 donation visits will be made available in the other centres as a result of the changes.
Local blood donors were informed of the changes in an email from the Red Cross Blood Service NSW- ACT donor services manager Steven Eldridge last week.
Former school principal Leo Hauville has been a loyal blood donor since 1977 and has clocked up more than 80 donations in that time.
He has set up an online petition to try to reverse the decision to close the Kempsey blood collection service.
“I remember quite clearly my first donation, I was in Lismore waiting to be posted to Kempsey and I heard on the radio about the Granville train disaster in Sydney and they were calling for donations from all over the state,” Mr Hauville said.
“I went and gave blood and I have just kept up the habit ever since.”
Mr Hauville said Kempsey had a proud history of giving blood which had been made progressively more difficult by changes to the collection service.
“First they closed the Kempsey Hospital donation service while the hospital is being redeveloped and moved it to the Kempsey-Macleay RSL Club,” Mr Hauville said.
“Then earlier this year it was moved again to the RSL Bowling Club and the hours reduced again.
“I hope the decision is not being made because of some perceived drop off in the number of donors, because if it is it is only because they (the Red Cross) have made it progressively more difficult for Kempsey donors to give blood, to the point where people have given up.
“We have also lost the Vampire Shield which was a competition between the local high schools which raised awareness of the importance of being a blood donor.”
Red Cross Blood Service NSW-ACT donor services manager Steven Eldridge said he understood the anger in the donor community.
“We rely on the passion and commitment of our donors so I fully understand Kempsey donors being upset about the closure of their blood collection service,” he said.
“All I can ask them is that after a period of adjustment they make the effort to keep donating.
“Unfortunately the closure of the Kempsey blood collection service obscures what is really a good news story for blood donation.
“Australia is at the forefront of finding new ways of using blood products more efficiently and effectively and we should celebrate that.
“I would like to acknowledge the donors who have rolled up their sleeves at these points and saved lives, particularly if these changes mean it is not possible for them to continue donating,” he said.
You can access Leo Hauville’s petition by searching Leo Hauville on Facebook and following the links.
