BLOOD BANK’S 21 YEARS

Press, Volume XCVIII, Issue 28802, 24 January 1959, Page 11

BLOOD BANK’S 21 YEARS

53,000 Bottles Given

In its 21 years of operation the North Canterbury Blood Transfusion service has only once recorded a month when more bottles of blood were issued than given by voluntary donors. The secretary of the service (Mr Tom Smith) said yesterday that the excess of demand over supply occurred last October, the anniversary of the establishment of the service in 1937. That month, 657 bottles were issued —l9 more than were received. “During the 21 years, 52,940 bottles have been given and 36,195 bottles were issued. The balance was used to make plasma (it takes three bottles of blood to make one bottle of plasma). “For the year ending December 31, 1958, 8669 bottles of blood were given and 6428 bottles issued, this being an increase over 1957, when blood given was 1174 bottles and blood issued, 577 bottles,” Mr Smith said. “We still have two members of the original committee on the present committee —Dr. L. C. L. Averill and Dr. D. T. Stewart. “The total membership for the whole of the Dominion in 1939 was 600 donors; today the North Canterbury centre is approaching 5000 in active membership but this will have to be greatly increased before the Cashmere Hospital comes into operation. “The monthly average has increased from 150 bottles donated in 1950 to 722 botles given in 1958, and the blood issued from 104 bottles in 1950 to 535 bottles in 1958. In December last 767 bottles of blood were received and 745 bottles issued. This is a record issued for the blood bank, hence our appeal through the press for donors over the holiday period,” Mr Smith said.