The Australian Red Cross Lifeblood has issued an urgent appeal for 22,000 extra people to donate blood or plasma over the next fortnight.
All blood and plasma types are needed, but in particular O-, A-, A+ and B- blood types are all running low.
Lifeblood executive director Cath Stone said that elective surgery was driving the increase as busy hospitals tackle a pandemic-driven backlog, alongside declining donor numbers.
"Hospital demand is up seven per cent compared to this time last year and we have around 10,000 fewer people donating now than we saw at the peak of the pandemic," she said.
"Even if you don't know what blood type you have, we still need you - we need all blood types every day. 31,000 donations are needed every week across Australia to help patients in times of trauma, major surgery, cancer treatment, pregnancy and a host of other situations."
To book a blood or plasma donation visit lifeblood.com.au or call 13 14 95.
