Calls for more mobile clinics as Canadian Blood Services pleads for donations
An Estevan resident is calling for the return of more mobile clinics as Canadian Blood Services (CBS) is seeking more donations across the country.
Last year, mobile clinics in some rural areas including Estevan and Swift Current were halted.
“Decisions around where we hold these donation events are assessed on a national basis and based on several factors including capacity to collect units, labour and transportation costs, as well as the distance and access to the nearest production site,” Mike Choi, the associate director for donor relations and collections with Canadian Blood Services, said. “The adjustments we make consider the best use of public funds as possible.”
Earlier this week, CBS put out a nation wide call for more donations, saying there has been an increase in appointment cancellations and attendance has decreased at centres across the country.
Choi said the national blood inventory has declined by about 25 per cent since the beginning of April.
Gerald Shauf, an Estevan resident, said it’s time to bring mobile clinics back to rural areas.
Shauf said he used to donate when the clinics would come a few times per year, but can’t justify travelling to donate.
“The cost of gas and everything, it’s just more economical and environmentally friendly for them to drive to Estevan,” he said.
He said there used to be dozens of people lining up at mobile clinics to donate, and likely would be again if they returned.
“There are lots of people out in those areas that are more than willing to give blood, but it’s just infeasible for everybody to drive to Regina or Saskatoon to make those donations,” he said.
Canadian Blood Services said as much as it would like to accommodate all donors, it has to be financially responsible.
“We really hope that folks located in communities who might not have their own local donation event or who used to have them in the past but currently don’t, can understand this and will still be willing to support patients by ways of scheduling a blood donation when making a visit to a town or city with a donation centre,” Choi said.
Donation centres operate weekly in Regina and Saskatoon, and mobile centres occur periodically in some smaller communities around the province.
In addition to blood, CBS is looking for platelet and plasma donations as well.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Widow looking for answers after Quebec man dies in Texas Ironman competition
The widow of a Quebec man who died competing in an Ironman competition is looking for answers.
Tom Mulcair: Park littered with trash after 'pilot project' is perfect symbol of Trudeau governance
Former NDP leader Tom Mulcair says that what's happening now in a trash-littered federal park in Quebec is a perfect metaphor for how the Trudeau government runs things.
World seeing near breakdown of international law amid wars in Gaza and Ukraine, Amnesty says
The world is seeing a near breakdown of international law amid flagrant rule-breaking in Gaza and Ukraine, multiplying armed conflicts, the rise of authoritarianism and huge rights violations in Sudan, Ethiopia and Myanmar, Amnesty International warned Wednesday as it published its annual report.
Photographer alleges he was forced to watch Megan Thee Stallion have sex and was unfairly fired
A photographer who worked for Megan Thee Stallion said in a lawsuit filed Tuesday that he was forced to watch her have sex, was unfairly fired soon after and was abused as her employee.
Amid concerns over 'collateral damage' Trudeau, Freeland defend capital gains tax change
Facing pushback from physicians and businesspeople over the coming increase to the capital gains inclusion rate, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his deputy Chrystia Freeland are standing by their plan to target Canada's highest earners.
U.S. Senate passes bill forcing TikTok's parent company to sell or face ban, sends to Biden for signature
The Senate passed legislation Tuesday that would force TikTok's China-based parent company to sell the social media platform under the threat of a ban, a contentious move by U.S. lawmakers that's expected to face legal challenges.
Wildfire southwest of Peace River spurs evacuation order
People living near a wildfire burning about 15 kilometres southwest of Peace River are being told to evacuate their homes.
U.S. Senate overwhelmingly passes aid for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan with big bipartisan vote
The U.S. Senate has passed US$95 billion in war aid to Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan, sending the legislation to President Joe Biden after months of delays and contentious debate over how involved the United States should be in foreign wars.
'My stomach dropped': Winnipeg man speaks out after being criminally harassed following single online date
A Winnipeg man said a single date gone wrong led to years of criminal harassment, false arrests, stress and depression.