• Home
• About us
  • History
  • Mission / Vision
  • Standards of Practice
  • Governance
  • Annual Report
  • Access to Info
• Donors
  • General Info
  • Types of Donors
    • Regular donors
    • Platelet donors
    • Autologous/Designated
    • Senior Citizens
  • Donor Questionaire
  • Clinic Schedules
  • Enrol as donor
• General
  • Groups
  • How blood is used
  • Questions
  • Tourists
• News
  • Press Releases
  • Photo gallery
  • Newsletter
• Doctors
  • Clinician's site
• Contacting us
  • Regions
  • Contact us
  • Update your details

Press Release

The Western Cape's blood supply is under critical pressure with blood banks at major hospitals such as Groote Schuur and Tygerberg reporting an increase of 30% in the demand for blood.

The increase, mainly as a result of an increase in trauma cases, has lead to difficulty in maintaining sufficient O and B blood group stocks and the Western Province Blood Transfusion Service (WPBTS) currently has a two day supply of the O blood group available.

In light of the seriousness of the situation, WPBTS has issued an urgent call to all volunteers to donate blood.

"The province's blood supply is under huge pressure at the moment and we urge the public to donate blood at our clinics — it is a life saving gift that more and more people are depending on each day," said Lynn Erasmus, spokesperson for the WPBTS.

A number of additional donation clinics have been planned to cope with the demand for blood over the festive season with the first of these taking place on Friday, 07 December 2007:

Tyger Valley Shopping Centre, c/o Willie Van Schoor & Bill Bezuidenhout Drive
Venue: Entrance no 6, Shop 126 (close to the Game store)
Date: Friday, 07 December 2007
Time: 10:00am — 17:45pm

The WPBTS has four permanent Blood Donor Centres at in Cape Town, Worcester, Paarl and George and hosts a number of mobile clinics across the province each day. Prospective donors can call the WPBTS on tel (021) 507 6300 / 6364 to find out about their closest clinic.

Prospective donors must be older than 17 years, weigh more than 50kg and lead a safe, healthy lifestyle. Donors are reminded to eat before attending clinics.

For more information, contact the Western Province Blood Transfusion Services on tel (021) 507 6300, e-mail info@wpbts.org.za or visit www.wpblood.org.za