MORE BLOOD GIVEN

Press, Volume CV, Issue 31057, 12 May 1966, Page 16

MORE BLOOD GIVEN

Transfusion Report

More blood was given in the last 12 months than in any year since the North Canterbury Blood Transfusion Service started in 1937, says the chairman (Dr. R. C. S. Dick) in the service’s annual report. The 7023 active donors on the donor panel gave a total of 11,134 units, an increase of 104 units over the 1964-65 period. Four donations during the year were given by 635 donors. Three donations were made by 1235 persons, 1166 made two, 2557 made one, and 1429 on the panel did not give blood. During the 12-month period, the Blood Transfusion Service issued 7792 units. Of these, 3034 units were issued to Christchurh Hospital, 3085 to Princess Margaret Hospital, and 1673 to other hospitals.

A large proportion of the blood (2525 units) was converted into plasma for fractionation. The resulting albumin had been used partly for building up reserve stocks in case of emergencies, and partly for treating current patients. The number of new donors enrolled was 1262, representing a slight decrease on the figure in the previous 12 months.

' Of the 7023 persons on the donor panel, 5005 are male and 2018 are female: 3197 attend the mobile unit and 3826 the blood bank. Donations to the mobile unit were 78 fewer than last year, while the bank received 182 more. Since 1938, 20,061 donors have been enrolled in the service, says the report, and they have given 131,444 units of blood. Four of the original members are still making donations.