BLOOD DONORS

Te Awamutu Courier, Volume 79, Issue 7145, 14 December 1949, Page 6

BLOOD DONORS

FORMATION OF TE AWAMUTU AND DISTRICT GROUP INFORMATIVE ADDRESS BY DR M. R. FITCHETT The formation of a Te Awamutu and district group of blood donors for the Waikato Hospital Blood Bank was advanced a stage at a meeting of representative citizens held in Mr R. F. Armstrong’s office on Monday afternoon. Mr J. O. Bayley, chairman of Federated Farmers, presided and associated with him were Mesdames H. C. Rainey, Downes, Macken, Houston, Messrs J. H. Ansell, W- Burchell, K. S. Kelly, Bryant. Dr Fitchett (pathologist), and Dr House, of the Waikato Hospital, were present by invitation. The chairman, after welcoming those present, said that a member of the Korakonui branch of Federated Farmers, after reading an article in the Courier as to the need for more blood donors for the Waikato Hospital, put forward a remit favouring the establishment of a permanent panel of blood donors at Te Awamutu and it was unanimously agreed to a Bank being established. The remit was supported by the Provincial Executive and it was agreed to seek the co-operation of the Junior Chamber of Commerce and other organisations.

At the request of Mr Bayley, Dr Fitchett addressed the meeting. Dr Fitchett expressed great pleasure at the keenness of local district residents to help in the Blood Transfusion Service of the Hospital. They had at one time 800 donors in Hamilton, but that number had dwindled down to 400. There was an ever-in-creasing use of blood and plasma at the Hospital and it wds impossible for Hamilton to supply all the requirements so that they were glad of help from the country districts. They had sent out a team to Orini quite recently and half the population of that country district had contributed blood. There were 35 Te Awamutu donors who were brought to the Waikato Hospital by ambulance but it would be convenient to come to Te Awamutu. They would require rooms to accommodate donors and the team from the. Hospital could come in the daytime or the evening, but the afternoon would be more suitable to the Hospital. A minimum of 24 donors would be required but up to 40 persons could be taken, and two donations of blood in a year was aimed at. The Doctor then detailed methods that had been used in getting donors. In industrial concerns if they could get one interested person and that person could approach fellow-work-ers with a view to their becoming donors. Another method was to approach various organisations such as were represented at the meeting. Dr Fitchett did not favour the public appeal method but he said it was simpler to get in touch with established organisations who had regular meetings.

In reply to various questions Dr Fitchett said the ideal donors were young men and women aged between 20 and 30 years, but there was no age limit. Unlimited quantities of blood was required and not an ounce was wasted. What was not used immediately was turned into plasma, of which they were making increased quantities. In regards accommodation at Te Awamutu, two wide tables would be required with adequate light and water. It would be an advantage if donors in their attendance could be staggered. The average time for a transfusion was about six minutes. There were no after-effects and all the fluid taken was replaced in a few hours. People with high blood pressure made very suitable donors and they benefited as a result of the giving of their blood. The chairman offered to discuss the matter of rooms etc. with the Te Awamutu St John Ambulance and that course was agreed to. Mr Bayley asked all present to get in touch with theii* organisations and ascertain how many donors would be available. The chairman then thanked Dr Fitchett and Dr House for their presence and Dr Fitchett for his helpful addressThe Doctor suitably acknowledged the compliment. Important Work of St John Ambulance Hamilton has a blood bank that provides a service to the public the extent of which is not generally known. This fact was referred to at the annual meeting of the Hamilton branch of St John Ambulance Association by the president, Mr J. C. Pollock. To give an idea of what an undertaking it has grown into, Mr Pollock said that a few years ago, after a drive for donors by the Junior Chamber of Commerce, the active list reached 750. Since then, for various reasons, including removals from the district, the number dwindled to 437 and, said Mr Pollock, “these donors have been responsible for supplying the astounding number of 775 transfusions. This is a wonderful record, and I cannot speak highly enough of the unselfish and humanitarian principals of these men and women who come forward so willingly and give their blood in the cause of mankind. Group System Inaugurated “Lately, in an endeavour to ease the position for these regular donors, we have been trying to inaugurate a group system which is beginning to take on, and journeys have recently been undertaken as far afield as Mangakino, Ngaruawahia and Orini, where groups of about 30 or more have been arranged by different local organisations such as the St John in Mangakino, the military in Ngaruawahia and the Federated Farmers in Orini. The Y.M.C.A. in Hamilton also arranged a group and a very successful response was obtained. “Trips will also be made to Te Awamutu and again to Ngaruawahia, in the near future. This is a most worthwhile cause, and I would like to ask everyone to use their utmost endeavours to recruit fresh donors. Transport Service

“Besides arranging for all these donors,” said Mr Pollock, “the transport staff have been kept busy with their regular work of conveying patients to and from hospitals. In the last year the ambulances have travelled 30,351 miles for 1171 runs, and have conveyed 1704 patients. “In an endeavour to help these men as much as possible in regard to their working conditions, a room has been

provided and they each have their I own bed to sleep in when they are on night duty, and extension phones put into the room, and an extension bell has been put out into the parade room where they may now go in what spare time they get, and be assured of hearing the phone. “We expect that in the near future the Social Security Department will be finding a portion of the expenses of the transport, and the public will be provided with free conveyance to hospital. It is expected that this will increase the work and therefore the expenses. “Although nothing definite has been finalised yet, we have had notification to hold ourselves in readiness to send a representative to Wellings ton to attend an urgent meeting on this matter. It is known that the Government is only going to find a portion of the costs and we will have to face up to finding the remainder. What the proportions are, has not yet been finally decided. However, that is in the future and we will take that hurdle when we come to it.”