Lifeblood will be coming to Lilydale over the next two weeks with a pop-up blood donation centre taking appointments.
The clinic is being held at the Lilydale Baptist Church on the corner of Hull and Swansea Roads from 8 August to 19 August, with many appointments still available in the second week.
It is also the first time people who lived in the United Kingdom during the ‘mad cow disease’ outbreak have been approved to donate blood in Australia.
This could potentially contribute up to 58,000 additional donations each year.
Australian Red Cross Lifeblood Executive Director of Donor Services, Cath Stone said Lifeblood hoped to welcome around 18,000 additional donors as the change comes into effect.
“It’s taken some time; however, we’re so pleased our comprehensive review of the evidence and our risk modelling has found this rule is no longer required. It means that from today, we’re thrilled to welcome these newly eligible donors to our centres around the nation,” Ms Stone said.
Since December 2000, those who had spent a total of six months or more in the UK between 1980 and 1996 were prevented from donating blood.
To book a donation visit lifeblood.com.au, call 13 14 95, or download the free DonateBlood App.
