Shepparton blood bank embraces newly eligible donors after UK ban lifts

By Anna McGuinness

Jul 29, 2022

Rule change: Shepparton blood donor centre session leader Vicki Jutson, wearing a Beatles T-shirt, celebrates changes making more people eligible to give blood. Photo: Rechelle Zammit. Photo by Rechelle Zammit

Shepparton’s blood donor centre has been taken over by a UK theme, after the ban on people who lived there during the mad cow disease outbreak giving blood was lifted on July 25.

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Australian Red Cross Lifeblood hopes to welcome about 18,000 extra donors as the rule in place since December 2000 is changed, which prevented people who had spent six months or more in the UK between 1980 and 1996 from donating blood.

Shepparton staff wore UK band T-shirts and the centre was adorned with UK flags and paraphernalia, even offering scones with jam and cream for donors.

Executive director of donor services Cath Stone said a comprehensive review of the evidence and risk modelling found the ban was no longer required.

“We’re thrilled to welcome these newly eligible donors to our centres around the nation,” Ms Stone said.

“We’re fortunate to have one of the safest blood supplies in the world, and we’re continuing our focus to make it easier for all Australians to donate, while ensuring our blood supply remains safe for patients.”

The recommendation by Lifeblood to remove the rule was approved by the Therapeutic Goods Administration earlier this year.

Concerns about these people donating blood was in response to the UK outbreak of bovine spongiform encephalopathy, known as mad cow disease, and the risk of acquiring human variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease.

It means people who migrated from the UK to Australia or travelled there during the outbreak are now able to roll up their sleeves and donate.

To book a donation visit lifeblood.com.au, call 13 14 95, or download the free DonateBlood App.