Mater Private Hospital Springfield has opened its first blood bank to support the growing number of patients being treated in the facility.

The blood bank will ensure the supply of blood and blood products for patients undergoing surgery or receiving cancer treatments.

Supervising Scientist Kelli Quantock said the hospital had previously relied on regular blood and blood product deliveries from Mater’s South Brisbane blood bank.  

“With more patients choosing to receive their care at Mater Private Hospital Springfield, it makes sense to have a dedicated blood bank on-site,” Ms Quantock said.

“The Springfield blood bank has already provided 450 patients with blood and we predict the demand will keep growing – especially when the Stage 2 expansion of the hospital is completed.

“The blood bank will enable Mater Private Hospital Springfield to undertake more complex surgical cases that would previously have been done in other hospitals.”  

Stage 2 of the Mater Private Hospital Springfield Master Plan will include an Emergency Department, Intensive Care Unit and maternity services, adding 139 beds to the hospital.

Director of Clinical Services Suzanne Hawksley said the expanded hospital will function as a fully integrated campus to both public and private patients, which is set to open in 2024.

“The expanded Mater Private Hospital Springfield will meet the future needs of this growing community and assist in reducing demand at other hospitals in the region,” Ms Hawksley said. 

Currently, around 75 per cent of blood and immunoglobin requests at Springfield are for patients attending the hospital’s Cancer Care Centre. 

Mater Cancer Care Centre Nurse Unit Manager Billy Jovanovic said that having blood readily accessible on site provided greater convenience for patients.

“Patients who do require blood during their treatment receive it very quickly, which means they feel better faster and complete their appointments on time,” Ms Jovanovic said.  

“We are very proud to be able to treat more complex cancer cases in our centre now - it’s a great service offering to the Springfield community.”