While Héma-Québec is currently experiencing a shortage of blood from the O + group, no collection is planned at the KRTB before November 9 in La Pocatière, and on November 29 and 30 in Rivière-du-Loup. Citizens wishing to donate their blood will therefore have to wait a few weeks.
Some hospitals in the province are thus obliged to postpone non-emergency or elective surgeries for their patients. However, Bas-Saint-Laurent does not see this situation, according to the spokesperson for the CISSS du Bas-Saint-Laurent, Gilles Turmel. “At the moment, none of our hospitals is experiencing a shortage of O positive blood. Elective surgeries are maintained and do not have to be postponed, ”he said. The citizens therefore do not have to worry for the moment, concluded Mr. Turmel.
On the side of Héma-Québec, a media relations manager wanted to rectify the facts about the current shortage in Quebec. According to this, blood needs are met for surgeries classified as urgent, but it is rather elective surgeries that are impacted in some cities. “It is true that there is a restricted allocation of group O positive blood products, but all the needs in urgent cases, for urgent surgeries, cancer patients, for example, are obviously met”, a- she explained.
Given the extent of the territory covered by Héma-Québec, more remote regions such as Bas-Saint-Laurent must therefore wait until the dates already set for mobile blood drives.
At the KRTB, citizens of all blood groups will be able to come to the Bombardier Center in La Pocatière from 2:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. on November 9 to donate blood. In Rivière-du-Loup, the Hôtel Levesque will welcome the Héma-Québec mobile collection team on November 29 and 30 from 1:30 p.m. to 8 p.m., then will go to Saint-Pascal at the Robert-Côté Community Center on December 2 from 2 p.m. to 8 p.m.
These collection dates are all by appointment only. Donors are invited to visit the Héma-Québec website to reserve a time slot.
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