The Norfolk Island Red Cross Blood Bank.

As many of you would have noticed, we are quite isolated here on Norfolk Island. While this comes with immeasurable privilege, there are certain aspects of contemporary life that we learn to live without or develop means of working around. The Red Cross Blood Bank is one example of how we have adapted to our circumstances.

Why do we have to do this.

Whole blood, the type required to assist patients who have suffered a major trauma such as a vehicle collision, has a limited shelf life. Unlike other procedures where blood plasma or white blood cells are used in treatment, when whole blood is used to replace blood lost in patients the blood type must be like for like. Keeping a supply of whole blood on Island to meet the many different blood types would be impractical and unsustainable, and a massive risk to a precious resource.

How does it work.

Every two months Celia Bigg from the Red Cross, and the NIHRACS pathology department collect blood samples from a pool of donors who make themselves available to the Red Cross Blood Bank. Each donor has samples taken twice a year. The samples are tested for a range of viruses that may lead to chronic disease. This process takes about 10 minutes and ensures that blood donated at Red Cross clinics is safe as possible for the end user.

When we have a critical incident on the Island, and available blood resources are depleted, the Norfolk Island Red Cross Blood Bank is activated. This happens when a community member needs an urgent blood transfusion, which exceeds the capacity of NIHRACS holding stock. At this point, donors who have previously been screened are called upon to come into NIHRACS to donate whole blood, which is then transfused directly to the patient. This is why a robust screening process, as we have in place, is so important. Remember that each of the eight blood types is unique in this circumstance, with certain blood types less frequent than others, and so donors of the more common, or common blood types may be called upon more frequently for these emergency situations.

If you would like to be involved as part of the donor pool, please contact Celia Bigg from the Red Cross on 54280, to discuss your eligibility to become part of the donor pool. If you would like more information on the blood collection and sampling process, please feel free to contact the hospital scientist, Kaen Howell, by email at pathology@health.nlk.gov.nf.