Extra day for blood donations

The Woy Woy Blood Donor Centre will open an extra day each month due to an increased demand for flexible collection hours

It will open on the third Wednesday of the month between 1pm and 7pm, as well as for the existing afternoon session every Tuesday.

Australian Red Cross Blood Service Central Coast marketing coordinator Ms Jacqui Bell said the additional service to the Peninsula would mean the need for blood continues to be constant and ongoing in the area.

"The additional session on the third Wednesday of the month will provide Peninsula donors with a greater range of available times in which they can donate and a greater capacity for the Red Cross Blood Service to collect much needed blood," Ms Bell said.

"The Woy Woy Blood Donor Centre was chosen to host the additional session because of the large number of Central Coast residents living on the Peninsula and currently only having access to the donor centre one day a week.

"Peninsula donors can now donate every Tuesday and the third Wednesday of the month between 1pm and 7pm at Woy Woy Donor Centre or on the donor mobile which visits Deepwater Plaza approximately every 12 weeks.

"The decision was made to open the additional Wednesday session from 1pm to 7pm to continue to meet the needs and lifestyle of the busy commuting population.

"The additional session at Woy Woy Blood Donor Centre will hopefully see a rise in blood donations for the Australian Red Cross Blood Service on the Central Coast and allow us to continue to provide life saving products to those with cancer, burns and accident victims as well as those undergoing surgery."

To make an appointment at Woy Woy Blood Donor Centre or at Deepwater Plaza, phone 131 495.

Press release, 6 Aug 2009 Jacqui Bell, Australian Red Cross Blood Service