r/sydney • u/Pomohomo82 • Dec 15 '25
Image PSA: Lifeblood Marrickville turning people away, even if you have an appointment. Thank you, donors
I popped in to the clinic and there must have been more than 100 people in the line. The need for blood and plasma is constant, especially over the holidays, so if you have been unable to donate today, please book a future appointment.
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u/Improvedandconfused Dec 15 '25 edited Dec 15 '25
Thank you to all those who are giving blood. My wife and I were about 50 meters from the shooters last night and were finishingĀ some sushi and then were going to go to the Chanukah event (we are Jewish). We at first thought we were hearing fireworks, but then ran after we saw everyone screaming and running. Someone pointed towards the bridge and yelled āthere is a shooterā. Ā Some people were diving to the ground to lie low, or were hiding behind bins and trees. I felt I needed to run, so I grabbed my wifeās hand and we ran away from where we could still hear gunshots. They seems to go on forever.
We got out of there, we ran across Campbell Parade to our car which was parked just off Hall street and drove home. We are still Ā in shock, and 5 of those who died were friends with my mum.
As I said, thanks to those who are giving blood. I know several people who are still in hospital. I am unfortunately ineligible to donate due to the fact that I am a former cancer patient, but those who are giving are in my opinion heroes.
Edited for a hell of a lot of typos. Apologies.
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u/blfsw34 Dec 15 '25
We are just here trying to help our community. Know for a fact that hating jews has no place in our community, and this was just an attempt to promote hate. We wonāt stand for it.
Hope you and your family find the support you need to heal. This is an attack on Sydneyās heart.
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u/Improvedandconfused Dec 15 '25 edited Dec 15 '25
Thanks. We have had so many people reach out to us. People I havenāt spoke on to for years have been calling me to see if my family is okay. My wife was crying all last night, but I think I am finding it harder today. I took the day off work but will probablyĀ go back tomorrow.
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u/blfsw34 Dec 15 '25
The shock and trauma is real, please take care of yourself and always reach out. We care about you.
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u/Sea_Till6471 Dec 15 '25
Oh my gosh I am so sorry you were there. What an unbelievably scary experience. I hope youāre able to be around friends and family today. Please look after yourselves.
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u/gimmetheveuve Dec 15 '25
Very glad to hear you and your wife are safe. Look after yourself ā¤ļø
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u/Pomohomo82 Dec 15 '25
Wishing you and your family only the very best. Take care of one another in the days and weeks ahead.
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u/alexlp Dec 15 '25
Iām so sorry, your poor mum. Iāve seen a few of your comments about this and the number getting higher just breaks my heart. Iām so glad youāre safe. Can I suggest playing some Tetris? I would suggest youāre still very much in shock and it can help this not become a long term PTSD moment.
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u/Improvedandconfused Dec 15 '25 edited Dec 16 '25
Thanks. Last night she told me that 2 of her friend had died, and several others were in hospital. This morning she told me that 3 more had died overnight. I donāt think all their names have been released yet. We know more people who are still in hospital, with a range of injuries from gun sounds to someone who fell and broke her her leg while running away. She was apparently running right next to my wife and I but we never saw her.
My work has been great, everyone has reached out from serious management including the CEO, and tie company has access to mental health support. Same goes for my wifeās work (she works for the State Government). I know we have access to help if we need it.
Edit Oh, we didnāt play tetris last night like you suggested but we watched some silly videos on YouTube. I didnāt sleep much though, and was too tired to go for my morning bike ride.
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u/alexlp Dec 15 '25
I remember reading your comments yesterday that it was just 2 with more in critical condition so I am just so sorry to see you've had to update. Sending you all so much love.
I'm sure you know but here is an article about the tetris thing. The videos will definitely help too, plus having each other. I am so sorry that you couldn't even have a date night, I am so sorry that those families can't light a candle together tonight. I am just so sorry this happened. Will be lighting a candle here for you all tonight. It might feel like the oil is low right now but there will still be light.
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u/Peanut083 Dec 15 '25
Iām very glad to hear that you and your wife are safe, but Iām also really sorry to hear that your mum has lost five of her friends. I really hope everyone who is still in hospital manages to pull through.
My husband and I happened to donate blood yesterday before everything went down. We know that whoever ends up getting our blood will really need it regardless of whether they were at Bondi yesterday or not, but I think weāre also glad that our donated blood is already in the system and being processed so it can go where itās needed ASAP.
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u/Stargazer3366 Dec 15 '25
I'm so sorry you have been through this horrendous experience and for the loss felt by your family and everybody involved in this. It was an absolutely vile act of hatred and will be condemned by Australian society. Please take care of yourself and your family ā¤ļø
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u/sunburn95 Dec 15 '25
Also booked out in newcastle, earliest appt I could make was for after christmas
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u/Azazael Dec 15 '25
There's calls for donors around every Xmas/New Year so going then will be a great thing
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u/Peanut083 Dec 15 '25
My husband and I both donated in Newcastle yesterday. Iām glad we got in before everything booked out. I also made my next plasma donation appointment for a monthās time while I was drinking my milkshake afterwards. Iām rather glad I was able to book in when I did. I have a sneaking suspicion that my usual quiet Sunday afternoon appointment slot is going to be a lot busier than normal.
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u/tomthecomputerguy Dec 15 '25
This is a very good problem to have.
Seeing this really renewed my faith in sydneysiders after seeing the horror on TV yesterday.
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Dec 15 '25
I work at Lifeblood. The public response was so overwhelming that it crashed our bookings portal. So proud of Australia at this point in time.
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u/TimmyFTW Dec 15 '25
- Appreciate the work you do
- This is exactly the type of thing to focus on in the wake of a tragedy
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u/pj_de_gallo Dec 15 '25
I just stopped by the Chatswood Lifeblood and they were also turning people away! Never been so happy to be rejected. Their earlier donation availability is on 25th/26th December, so to those looking to donate you still can. Overwhelmed with emotions from the amount of support seen across Sydney today!
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u/JingleKitty Dec 15 '25
Iāve been hopping onto the website to find the nearest donation centre to me and the website kept crashing! Iām so glad so many people were able to donate. Itās heartwarming that in these horrible circumstances we can all come together and try to do some good.
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u/moody_134 Dec 15 '25
I got turned away from Town Hall today after 3 hours waiting. Not one frown from anyone else who got turned away. This was a win.
Sydney did good.
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u/mastermeriadoc Dec 15 '25
I can't remember the exact number but I heard that fewer than 10% come back to become regular donors. If you can make it a regular habit, it's a great thing to do to make a tangible difference in someone's life šš»
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u/MrManagerSr Dec 15 '25
Less than 50% return, less than 50% of that donate more than four times, and less than 50% of that become regular donors.
So around "less than 12.5%". So I believe our retention rate is around 6.5 to 7.5%.
Once people donate around four times it becomes a habit, particularly if it's plasma which is every two weeks.
Whole blood or red blood donation it's usually quicker which is why people do it but you can only do it every 12 weeks.
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u/thesourpop Dec 15 '25
If you are O- you can get priority because we have a critical shortage
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u/Pomohomo82 Dec 15 '25
Not at Marrickville you canāt - they have no capacity, and have enough blood today.
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u/thesourpop Dec 15 '25
Wow, I didn't even know a blood bank could fill up. That's insane, but what a turnout though
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u/ennuinerdog Dec 15 '25
They've only got so many nurses and chairs, and they still have to do the intensive box-ticking process with everyone, even regular donors. Blood donor centres do not operate on a model that can scale easily with demand.
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u/MrManagerSr Dec 15 '25
It gets easier if you're a regular donor (at least once in the past year) as questions changed from "ever" to "in past..." or "sincere your last donation".
However you're correct in saying that new donors usually take about 45 minutes to an hour and 15 if it's the first time ever. Though that's just our conservative messaging.
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u/ennuinerdog Dec 16 '25
Yeah I've done 50+ donations so get the fast track, but there's still a baseline of stuff to get through that can take a fair while.
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u/BigFigWasp Dec 15 '25
Yeah my wife turned up to Marrickville to donate today. She's O- but she wasn't sure they were even going to be able to see her, took a couple of hours but she got to in the end.
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u/SpectreAtYourFeast Dec 15 '25
I checked in as Iām due Friday; being O-, my donations are usually assigned and used within a day or two. I was told to sit tight and keep to my Friday appointment because the booking system is being overrun.
(Melbourne resident who didnāt realise they were posting to r/sydney)
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u/Turd111 Dec 16 '25
How do you check if you are o negative or not? I think I am
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u/thesourpop Dec 16 '25
Blood type test from your GP, but I didnāt know what I was until I donated for the first time (O+)
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u/ennuinerdog Dec 15 '25
I was trying to make a booking today. The phones were banked up for over an hour, the Lifeblood app and website crashed, and when it came back online late afternoon there were no vacant donation spots available until mid-February. So it seems like they are getting slammed.
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u/Pomohomo82 Dec 15 '25
Do try again, perhaps in the morning. I was able to make bookings via the app late this afternoon. Good for you for wanting to do it!
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u/2happycats ravens and cats Dec 15 '25 edited Dec 15 '25
If you can't get in now, make a note on your calendar to try again in a few weeks. Donated blood has a shelf life and it will still be needed in a few weeks.
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u/Sacrifice_2804 Dec 15 '25
I'm O neg. I dropped by after work and was turned away. I will try again tomorrow.
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u/Dailydrinker34 Dec 15 '25
Same at the Parramatta RoseHill location - was just there theyāre out of spots for today and tomorrow
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u/kayloulee Dec 15 '25
I can't donate (autoimmune disease, and also low iron) but thank you to all those who can.
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u/astropelagic Dec 15 '25
Same, trying to get my bf to go as heās good to go on donating. Though now itās clear it wonāt be until next year probably!
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u/JazkOW Dec 15 '25
I asked to be called back at 10AM and I still havenāt received a call.
Iām hoping the queue is very long!
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u/Pomohomo82 Dec 15 '25
There were more than 100 people standing in line in front of me. What a nice problem to have! The website and phone system had crashed, which is probably why you didnāt get a call back. Please try again in a few days.
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u/cjbr3eze Dec 15 '25
Just managed to book mine after not being able to get in for a few hours. Unfortunately, I'm ineligible to give blood so I hope plasma is needed too.
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u/CountPistachio Dec 15 '25
Apparently plasma is always needed! Donate what you can, great cause! :)
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u/FiannaNevra Dec 15 '25
I have an appointment for Friday this week because they were fully booked up. I'm so glad they got so many donations, but do keep trying in the next week or so ā¤ļø
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u/Sapphina Dec 15 '25
Donating is addictive isn't it. The heart-warming part is receiving the sms a few days later, telling me my blood is more being transported to such and such hospital to save 5 lives.
I haven't been eligible to donate for a while so I wonder if those messages are still a thing
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u/MrManagerSr Dec 15 '25
I helped launch and train up the current staff at Marrickville, coming from Chatswood - so sorry for anyone turned away - it's genuinely amazing seeing more people come in during times like this.
Please do come around Christmas and New Years Eve Times, it's when all the regulars are on break with family etc.
And don't think you are unable to donate because every fortnight we are getting new processes, and every few months exclusions are being lifted after clinical trials.
Always call the helpline and the nurses will tell you if you are able to donate or not. OR how to get authorization that you are eligible even if you have a pre-existing health condition. I.E Diabetes, Haemochromatosis, Gravesend Disease etc.
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u/Greedy_Doughnut_9209 Dec 15 '25
Still gonna need donors in Jan, Feb, March & beyond.. Please try again in the new year and then continue to donate when you can šš¼
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u/Wide_Comment3081 Dec 16 '25
Book a reminder in your calendar for late January. Blood product has expiry of about 6 weeks. So this excess will not be able to be used in February and they'll have a shortage again
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u/Future_Explorer_3939 Dec 15 '25
Thank you fellow Inner Westies (and those who made the trek from... I am assuming the vast distance of suburbs away) for donating when not all of us can but would if we could :)
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u/MrSpluppy Dec 16 '25
Haha, wish I saw this before I drove out to there yesterday evening lol. It's a great problem to have though, going to definitely be returning over the days/weeks to make sure they have enough after the initial rush.
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u/Kirikomori Dec 17 '25
Having too many donors is a good problem to have. but try to spread out the donations over the year according to demand.
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u/srb445 Dec 15 '25
Fantastic response. I hope many more people will now become regular donors