WBHHS Lifeblood team saves more than 3,000 lives through donations
Wide Bay Hospital and Health Service has taken out the top spot in Hervey Bay and placed 2nd in Bundaberg for saving the most lives through blood donation as part of the Australian Red Cross Lifeblood Teams program.
Throughout 2020, Lifeblood Teams across Wide Bay donated blood, competing to see who could take out the title of saving the most lives.
Employees across WBHHS made more than 1,000 donations in 2020, saving the lives of 3,270 Australian patients. Impressively, this figure is more than four times what WBHHS’s Lifeblood team donated in 2017, as they’ve worked hard to recruit more members and make more life-saving donations.
Lifeblood spokespersons Rosie Barton and Jacinta Jeffrey said WBHHS staff involved in the Lifeblood Teams program were to be congratulated for their amazing efforts.
“At Lifeblood, we have seen continued support from Wide Bay Hospital and Health Services since 2017 when the team united for the cause. Each year, we set a new target and each year we are blown away by their response,” Rosie said.
“In 2017, this inspiring team, which gives so much each day to care for our communities, gave 226 life-saving blood and plasma donations. From there, we have had the pleasure of watching them flourish with their most recent results seeing them donate enough blood products to save the lives of over 3,000 Australians.
“We hope their example will encourage other staff members and the wider public to join the cause and give others a second chance at life.
“We also urge all our Lifeblood Teams to continue donating and saving lives to see who can take out the award for 2021.”
WBHHS Chief Executive Debbie Carroll said staff were particularly passionate about donating blood and blood products due to their everyday experiences with patients and families.
“Each and every day our staff see first-hand how blood donations have a life-changing and life-saving impact for people such as our cancer or surgical patients,” Ms Carroll said.
“Knowing how important it is to have strong blood and blood product supplies for our patients is a strong motivator for our staff to donate their own blood and plasma.
“While they contribute each day to saving lives as part of their job, our Lifeblood team can also be very proud of the additional lives they have saved through their generous donations.”
Making a blood or plasma donation is an easy way to make a difference to someone’s life. Hervey Bay and Bundaberg Donor Centres need more than 600 donations each week to meet patient demand.
Our local Lifeblood Teams contributed an impressive 11,781 donations throughout 2020. It’s safe to say, we couldn’t do what we do without their support. If you would like to join a team, or create your own, please head to lifeblood.com.au or call us on 13 14 95.
MEDIA OPPORTUNITY
What: Presentation to Wide Bay Hospital and Health Service for saving lives through blood donations
When: 12.30pm, 11/02/2021
Where: Wide Bay Hospital & Health Service Bundaberg
Who: Spokespeople from Wide Bay Hospital and Health Service and Lifeblood available
