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The National Australia Bank today reaffirmed its commitment to encouraging staff to donate blood during working hours and called on other businesses to do the same, in an attempt to avert a serious blood shortage. At the launch of the Australian Red Cross Blood Service's National Blood Donor Week, Mr Ian MacDonald, Executive General Manager Financial Services Australia, said "The National is right behind the Australian Red Cross Blood Service in both a financial and social sense. We encourage all Australian businesses to give their staff time during working hours to donate blood." Australia needs an extra 20,000 blood donors to keep pace with demand for a special blood product known as Intragam P®. Intragam P® is used to treat a range of medical conditions and patients, including cancer patients and people with neurological disorders. A shortfall in donors will mean that some people will miss out on this life saving treatment. This year's National Blood Donor Week theme is 'Blood donors. Everyday heroes', recognising that those who give blood are just as heroic in their selfless act of giving as other more high profile heroes. "The National is particularly proud of its own heroes, our staff," said Mr MacDonald. "These people help to take the National's partnership with the Blood Service beyond a success as a corporate sponsorship and into the realm of personal commitment and selflessness." The National's formal partnership with the Australian Red Cross Blood Service extends beyond its encouragement of staff blood donations, it includes substantial financial support in three key areas - a Mobile Community Education Program, Medical Research and National Blood Donor Week.
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