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The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:
The spokesman for Hong Kong Red Cross Blood Transfusion Service (BTS) today (January 22) announced the extension of the service hours of four donor centres from this Saturday (January 24) to February 1 (Sunday) to facilitate blood donation by members of the public. The extended service hours of the four centres in the above period are as follows:
* Kwun Tong Donor Centre and Tsuen Wan Donor Centre:
11am to 8pm from Monday to Saturday and noon to 8pm on Sunday
* Causeway Bay Donor Centre and Shatin Donor Centre:
noon to 8pm from Monday to Sunday
For the other four centres, namely Mongkok Donor Centre, Headquarters Donor Centre, Central District Donor Centre and Yuen Long Donor Centre, the service hours will remain unchanged. Please visit the BTS website www.ha.org.hk/rcbts or call 2710 1234 for their normal service hours and the addresses of individual donor centres.
The spokesperson said that blood demand from patients has been persistently high for the past two months, causing the blood inventories to fluctuate between the low and very low levels. The BTS appeals to members of the public to spare time to give blood as soon as possible so that hospitals can treat chronically and critically ill patients in need of transfusion. At least 1 200 people would be required to come forward daily in the next fortnight to stabilise the supply and increase the blood inventories.
The spokesman added that Hong Kong would need more of its citizens to be ready to get involved in supporting and taking part in blood donation to boost overall blood collection effectively. Anyone who donates at a donor centre (excluding the two university campus donor centres) from January 24 to February 1 will receive a Blood Buddy Coaster while stocks last.
Please act now!
Ends/Thursday, January 22, 2015
Issued at HKT 15:53
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