News
Joondalup Health Campus rallies to support Red Cross Blood Challenge
Apr 11, 2019
Joondalup Health Campus (JHC) and Ramsay Health Care have thrown their support behind the Australian Red Cross Blood Service’s Red25 Health Services Blood Challenge, hosting Western Australia’s official launch at the hospital on Monday 8 April.
The Health Services Challenge is a national competition between all health service organisations in Australia to see who can donate the most blood.
Since 2017, it has helped the Blood Service engage new donors and driving an increase in overall donations during the challenging winter period.
Former blood product recipient and JHC midwife Justine McFarlane has been chosen as the face of the 2019 challenge, after losing nearly 80 per cent of her blood during the birth of her fourth child in 2018, following a complication of pregnancy.
“We will be forever grateful to the beautiful people who donated the blood that saved me and my baby - and of course the wonderful staff at JHC,” she said.
“This challenge provides businesses with the opportunity to encourage their employees to donate blood and I’m so pleased to be supporting it and giving back to a service that helped save my life and my baby’s only a year ago.”
“My experience made me really appreciate the importance of blood donation – if not for the kindness of Australians who have taken the time to donate, I might not be here today.”
Patient Blood Management Consultant and former HESTA nurse of the year Angie Monk said the hospital used more than 60 units of blood products every week.
“Nearly 25 per cent of donated blood products are used by the Joondalup Health Campus Emergency Department each week and 14 per cent go to our cancer patients,” she said.
“The rest goes towards treating serious medical issues ranging from pregnancy complications to immune conditions and heart disease.”
Regional Manager for the Australian Red Cross Blood Service Brett King said one in three Australians would need blood or blood products in their lifetime, but only one in 30 donates.
“Those working in our health services know better than anyone that the need for blood is constant. One donation can save up to three lives so we’re encouraging anyone who can donate to do so.”
To make an appointment, call 13 14 95 or log on to donateblood.com.au.