New blood donor centre to open in Cannington

A VAST blood donor centre, with a capacity to take 18,000 donations a year has opened in Cannington.

The $2.4 million centre is three times bigger than its predecessor and is expected to draw donors from across the South East Metropolitan area.

According to the Australian Red Cross, blood donors from the Cannington centre will give 18,000 blood donations a year to help or save the lives of 54,000 Australian.

Those lives include seven-year-old recipient Eva Renton who needs plasma products every week to fight an immune deficiency.

To date, Eva has already received close to 50 plasma-based treatments.

Eva will join Australian Red Cross Blood Service chief executive Shelly Park in officially opening the new centre at a ceremony on Monday.

Ms Park said the new centre would accommodate a growing number of blood donors in the area.

“Demand for blood has changed a lot since we first opened our old Cannington Donor Centre 17 years ago in 1999,” she said.

“Our new centre is three times bigger, which means it now has the space to continue to collect even more blood donations in the future.

“In our first year in our new facility we expect up to 12,000 litres of blood will be donated by our 5500 loyal Cannington blood donors.

“We’d also like to invite more people to come and give blood at this amazing new facility; in doing so you can help to save lives like Eva’s.”

The new centre is close to the former site, at 1296 Albany Highway in a street front location the new centre was funded with contributions from federal and state governments.

To make an appointment to donate blood at the new Cannington Blood Donor Centre, or for more information visit donateblood.com.au or call 13 14 95.