New opportunities to donate blood and plasma in Henderson with launch of five-day mobile drive

Donating blood and plasma just got easier for West Auckland residents as New Zealand Blood Service (NZBS) launches a new, weekly five-day mobile drive.

Opening its doors on Thursday, June 6, the mobile will be stationed at 289 Lincoln Rd, Henderson, operating Monday to Friday.

This new mobile drive comes as demand for blood and blood products in New Zealand continues to increase. The need for blood is forecast to grow by four percent per year, while the demand for plasma is increasing by 10 percent.

“We’re really excited to launch this new mobile drive in Henderson,” says NZBS Donor Relations Team Leader Scott Sinclair.

“Henderson is home to a dedicated community of regular donors, and our goal is to grow our donor panel in the area over the next few years. This is a fantastic opportunity to tap into one of Auckland’s quickest growing suburbs, which will help us meet rising demand and ensure a consistent supply of blood products for those in need.

“We’re confident that this conveniently located and streamlined mobile drive will also help encourage an entirely new generation of volunteers to roll up their sleeves and join our whānau of donors in the Henderson-Massey area."

The Henderson mobile drive is designed for donor comfort and convenience. With ten on-site car parks and extended opening hours, it’s easier than ever for locals to schedule a donation around a busy workday.

The drive holds six donor beds. Five of these beds are specifically designed for plasma collection, with a sixth "flexi-bed" suitable for either blood or plasma donations.

There will be 165 plasma and 39 blood donation appointments available each week.

The Lincoln Road mobile drive will replace the monthly plasma mobile drive NZBS held at the Waitakere Netball Courts.

However, NZBS will continue to run a separate mobile blood drive in Henderson in conjunction with the new mobile drive.

To book an appointment to donate, visit nzblood.co.nz, download the New Zealand Blood Service Donor App or call 0800 448 325.

New donors are encouraged to find out if they are eligible at nzblood.co.nz and book an appointment to donate.

Those who have previously been told they could not give blood due to their age or a medical condition are also asked to check the updated NZBS donor eligibility criteria.

About New Zealand Blood Service:

New Zealand Blood Service (NZBS) is a Crown entity and the sole organisation responsible for the collection, processing, testing, storage and distribution of all blood and blood products in New Zealand.

NZBS relies on voluntary and non-remunerated blood donations from individuals around the country to provide a constant supply of precious blood and blood products used by health services to help thousands of patients.