Blood centre extends hours

The Australian Red Cross Blood Service has extended Woy Woy blood donor centre's opening hours to cater for Peninsula commuters heading back from Newcastle and Sydney.

The centre will now be open from 1.30pm to 7.30pm every Tuesday to allow local residents commuting on private or public transport to donate blood regularly.

"We realise that many people work 9am to 5pm and when that work is in Sydney or Newcastle it's very hard to find time for anything else, even for the life saving act of donating blood, so we're shifting the Woy Woy donor centre opening hours to later in the day," area manager Mr Steve Eldridge said.

"The extension of Woy Woy blood donor centre to 7.30pm means those leaving the city as late as 5.30pm or 6pm via train can still get to the Woy Woy donor centre by 7.30pm.

"The Australian Red Cross Blood Service anticipates a doubling in demand for blood in the next 10 years, because of developments in medical science and the ageing population.

The Woy Woy blood donor centre is located at Woy Woy Hospital along Ocean Beach Rd.

For further information and appointments call 131 495 or visit www.donateblood.com

Press release, 22 Feb 2010 Jacqui Bell, Australian Red Cross Blood Service