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Red Cross farewells Southbank centre

Red Cross farewells Southbank centre

It’s an exciting time for the Australian Red Cross Blood Service, as Southbank Donor Centre staff and donors prepare to farewell the facility and merge with the Bourke St Donor Centre next month.

The two centres will form Australia’s largest donor centre on May 23 and the new centre will be open seven days a week, with around 60,000 donations expected to be collected in the first year of operations.

Blood Service spokesperson Doug Allen explained that, despite the excitement around the move, the Blood Service was concerned locals may hold off donating until the end of May.

“The teams and many of the donors are looking forward to moving into the state-of-the-art facility on Collins St in May,” Mr Allen said.

“We are concerned, however, some donors may put off donating until we’re in the new facility. We really need locals to continue donating at the Southbank Donor Centre on Clarke St until final collections on May 20.”

“Patients are relying on those donations coming in so it’s absolutely vital people continue to give before we move – we still need you.”

The merger was announced in June 2015 with the new donor centre expected to cost around $3.85 million at completion.

Located at Level 1, 367 Collins St the centre is ideally located around 10 minutes from the two existing centres.

Mr Allen explained that the two centres were merging due to a need to streamline its inner city service.

“We currently have two large donor centres located within 1.8 km of each other,” he said.

“Both sites were on the cards to be relocated and when we found this site it offered us the perfect footprint and location to create Australia’s biggest donor centre.”

“We’ll be able to provide our donors with state-of-the-art facilities, fantastic access to public transport and also car parking.”

“The change means we will be better equipped to meet the needs of patients now, and also cater for any future changes in demand for blood and blood products.”

Mr Allen was also keen to put at ease those donors wondering if they’ll still see the friendly and familiar faces from Southbank at the new site.

“We’re very pleased to confirm all our staff from both donor centres will be making the move with us, so donors will continue to see those familiar faces along with meeting some new ones,” he said.

The Southbank Donor Centre (located at Level 1, 51-65 Clarke St, Southbank) is open six days a week to collect blood donations from the local community.

To make your appointment to donate please call 13 14 95 or visit www.donateblood.com.au/make-appointment

The centre is open from Monday to Thursday (7am to 7pm), Friday (7am to 6pm, closed on Saturdays and Sunday (8am to 3.30pm).

Donors can find out more information about the move by visiting www.donateblood.com.au/melbournecbd

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