Carmel Brown said the Blood Bank was due this month in Harden but it’s not coming, with donors now forced to travel to Young to donate blood. She said, “I heard it wasn’t coming from a lady down the street; when I eventually got on to someone on the phone they didn’t want to tell me that it wasn’t coming. They kept fobbing me off.” Carmel said over 30 people regularly donate at Harden each time the truck comes to the town, which is every quarter, or 4 times every year. Carmel said she was told that the Blood Bank had notified Hilltops Shire; however, when several Councillors were asked for comment they said they were unaware of the loss of services to Harden.
Carmel said she was told by the local liaison officer in Wagga that the van would not be coming until August. She said, “I told them that wasn’t satisfactory but she said it wasn’t economical. She said, ‘We are always wanting blood’ and I said, “You are turning your back on it.” Carmel said she was told that another day will be added to Young. She said, “We have a lot of men who are graziers around here who give blood and they come into town, give blood and head back to the farm. They won’t have time to go to Young. You can rely on the regulars all the time. We are only asking for one day every 3 months, 4 times a year.”
Carmel said it had been about 8 years since she and Brian Dunn first fought for the Blood Truck to make permanent stops in Harden. It took numerous trips to Wagga with Brian to ensure the visits to Harden were put in place. Both Brian and Carmel are known for fighting the good fight for their communities; however, with Brian’s recent passing it appears Carmel will have to rally the troops and the town if the service is to be changed back to 4 times a year.
The Hospital Auxiliary has been catering for the van ever since it first came to town 8 years ago, with volunteers helping to staff the facility Carmel said, “The mammography van will likely disappear too. It goes to Boorowa one year and Harden the next. There were a lot of women who had never had a screening done before we got it to town. Brian found a site at the Hospital and with Brian being an electrician he knew what was needed and got all the power points organised. They just pulled up at the front and away they went. It’s the not being told which is frustrating” Carmel said she will be approaching the local member Steph Cooke for assistance but isn’t sure what she can do.
Carmel is also a member of the Local Health Advisory Committee and will be bringing the issue up with new President Hilton Doberer and fellow member, Councillor John Horton. They will try and save the van. She said, “I don’t know why they’ve got to take us little country towns down. They knock you down every time they can. I think they thought it would just blow over” Carmel said she was told that the heads were coming this week and that Harden’s case would be put to them. The Times contacted the NSW/ACT Regional Communications Manager Jemma Falkenmire looking for answers.
Falkenmire said she was seeking feedback from the Harden community so that she could forward it on to the donor centre manager. She said, “I want to make sure that the feedback gets through.” She said there were changes in the mobile schedule and they had no plans to withdraw from the region, although they were trialling extra plasma collections. The mobile units normally collect red cells; however, a couple of years ago the hospitals needed more plasma and introduced trialling plasma collections. She said, “They actually increased visits to Young this year mostly so they can collect and cater for the strong demand for plasma collections. Essentially the change was to make sure we were still giving Harden a service and Young and Coota still have the same service but try and increase some of the plasma collections at those sites.”
Falkenmire said, “There have had some low collections in Harden last year as well, so it was a decision to try and use the resources differently but it’s not set in stone. The mobile services are under review at the moment so feedback about the changes is welcomed.” It appears that the Harden service will only continue once a year unless the powers that be receive some very forceful feedback. Falkenmire assured us that the information would be passed up the chain. She can recontacted on 02 92 34 2119 or at jfalkenmire@redcrossblood.org.au
It is hoped that the service can be retained in the same manner as it has previously been provided. Falkenmire acknowledged the commitment that the local donors make. If Harden wishes to retain the services as they are, now is the time to support Carmel and make contact with the powers that be.
