First satellite blood bank set up in the West to tap on the growing working and resident population in the area

Singapore, 23 June 2015 – The Health Sciences Authority’s (HSA) third satellite blood collection centre at Westgate Tower was officially opened by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Finance, Mr Tharman Shanmugaratnam, today. The new Bloodbank@Westgate Tower is strategically located within the vibrant Jurong Lake district, and is near residential areas, business parks and shopping malls. It aims to encourage the growing working and residential population in the western part of Singapore to become regular blood donors. The new blood bank is a critical part of both HSA and the Singapore Red Cross’ (SRC) proactive efforts to meet the current and future blood needs of patients in Singapore.

Managed by HSA, in partnership with SRC, Bloodbank@Westgate Tower has the capacity to collect 100 units of blood daily to help meet national blood demand. Blood usage is expected to increase at a rate of between 3% and 5% annually, from the 120,000 units currently. With Singapore’s ageing population and more elderly developing age-related medical conditions that can cause anaemia, more than 220,000 units of blood would be required every year by 2030.

Strategically located at the intersection of two major MRT train lines and a bus interchange, Bloodbank@Westgate Tower seeks to be a convenient and accessible place for residents living in Boon Lay, Choa Chu Kang, Clementi, Jurong East and Jurong West to donate blood. Currently, there are about 18,000 blood donors living in these estates. SRC has already started working with partners in the West such as Yuhua Community Club, Jurong Town Council, Nanyang Technological University, M1 and ExxonMobil, to encourage more new and current donors to give blood at the new blood bank. More than 40 such organisations have committed their support for Bloodbank@Westgate Tower.

The newly opened blood bank is part of HSA’s broader strategy of decentralisation to bring blood donation centres closer to donors and the communities. The first satellite blood bank was opened at Woodlands in 2011, followed by a second one at Dhoby Ghaut in 2012. Together, they collected about one third of the national blood supply last year.

“We are cognisant of the critical role the National Blood Programme plays in supporting the demand for blood products from a rapidly ageing population and a fast expanding healthcare system. To encourage more new and existing donors to come forward to give the gift of life, we want to replicate the success of earlier blood banks by siting the new blood bank within walking distance of public transport hubs. We also appreciate the importance of making blood donation a community-driven effort. From the onset, SRC has sought the support of the local grassroots organisations for the new Bloodbank@Westgate Tower. We are heartened that these early engagement efforts have already started to create buzz for the new blood bank. These community partners are critical to the success of the Bloodbank@Westgate Tower,” said Dr Mimi Choong, CEO of HSA.

Youth Engagement

Youths continue to be the focus under the National Blood Programme. By inculcating the importance of giving blood from young, HSA and SRC hope that it will inspire more people to become life-long blood donors. SRC has been working closely with schools through learning journeys and the organisation of mobile blood drives, to educate youths about blood donation and the importance of the National Blood Programme to support our national healthcare system. In 2014, a total of 57 learning journeys and 122 blood mobile drives were organised.

“The new blood bank is a critical part of our proactive effort to meet the blood transfusion needs of patients in Singapore. Blood donation is the social responsibility of every single one of us and we hope that the residents in Jurong will rally together to adopt the Bloodbank@Westgate Tower as their own. We need the support of everyone in the community: grassroots organisations, civic and religious organisations, companies and schools to encourage and enable those who can donate blood to come forward and contribute to this life-saving cause,” said Mr Benjamin William, Secretary General of the Singapore Red Cross.

Exhibition Showcasing the National Blood Programme

In conjunction with the opening of the Bloodbank@Westgate Tower, HSA and SRC have put together an exhibition on the National Blood Programme at the foyer of Jurong East MRT station, and it is open to the public from now till 5 July. The exhibition profiles the evolution and progress of the National Blood Programme to meet the blood transfusion needs of patients in Singapore since its inception in 1946. Over the years, HSA has put in place processes and testing methodologies to ensure the safety and quality of the collected blood, while SRC has built up a pool of dedicated donors and blood mobile organisers to make voluntary and non-remunerated blood donation possible. Blood donation numbers have also grown significantly from a modest 287 units in 1946 to more than 108,000 units in 2014.

About the Health Sciences Authority

The Health Sciences Authority (HSA) applies medical, pharmaceutical and scientific expertise through its three professional groups, Health Products Regulation, Blood Services, and Applied Sciences, to protect and advance national health and safety. HSA is a multidisciplinary authority. It serves as the national regulator for health products, ensuring they are wisely regulated to meet standards of safety, quality and efficacy. As the national blood service, it is responsible for providing a safe and adequate blood supply. It also applies specialised scientific, forensic, investigative and analytical capabilities in serving the administration of justice. For more details, visit http://www.hsa.gov.sg/. For more updates on public health and safety matters, follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/HSAsg.

The HSA’s Blood Services Group, as the national blood service, secures the nation’s blood supply by ensuring a safe and adequate blood supply. It is responsible for collecting, processing, testing and distributing blood and blood products to all hospitals in Singapore. It also provides specialist transfusion medicine services in immunohaematology and tissue typing, and is actively engaged in the cutting-edge therapeutic research area of cell therapy.

Bloodbank@Westgate Tower: Quick Facts at a Glance

Management

Bloodbank@Westgate Tower is the third fixed satellite blood donation centre. It will be managed by the Health Sciences Authority (HSA) in partnership with the Singapore Red Cross (SRC), the national blood donor recruiter and HSA’s strategic partner.

Location

1 Gateway Drive #10-01 to 05
Westgate Tower
Singapore 608531

Opening Hours

Mondays to Fridays: 12noon to 8pm
Saturdays and Sundays: 10am to 5pm
Closed on Public Holidays

Floor Area

506 sqm

Donation services available

Whole blood donations

Capacity

20 – 40 donors per hour

Number of Staff

12

Projected Daily Blood Collections

100 units