Huge impact of GP blood donation referrals revealed

A campaign supported by the RACGP has led to a surge in life-saving blood donations from patients with haemochromatosis, new research has found.
 
In collaboration with Australian Red Cross Lifeblood, the RACGP joined a campaign for blood from these patients to be donated to the national supply last year, with GPs central to enabling this with the support of a simple referral tool.
 
Following the launch of the campaign, donations by people with haemochromatosis – estimated to affect around one in 200 Australians – increased by 2500, saving an extra 7500 lives, according to Lifeblood.
 
A follow-up study published in this month’s edition of the Australian Journal of General Practice (AJGP) found that 48.3% of respondents from a survey of 4300 donors with haemochromatosis chose to donate at Lifeblood because their GP recommended it.
 
Additionally, 62.5% donated at Lifeblood based on the knowledge their blood would help others.
 
Lead author and Senior Medical Officer at Lifeblood, Dr Peter Bentley, told newsGP these findings highlight the importance of GPs’ role in educating patients on the benefits of donating.
 
‘It’s crucial that GPs refer to us today, because we know from this research that most of our members we surveyed noted that it was their GP who suggested they come to Lifeblood,’ he told newsGP.
 
‘And they were also very keen to understand their blood was used to help the Australian community.’
 
Lifeblood provides a referral-based therapeutic venesection program where GPs can refer their patients with haemochromatosis using the High Ferritin App, with venesections then performed
at Lifeblood donor centres.
 
Lifeblood takes around one-third of all therapeutic donations across a large network of collection centres around Australia, Dr Bentley says, while two-thirds of therapeutic venesections for hereditary haemochromatosis are done outside their premises.
 
‘And all of that is wasted,’ he said.
 
‘That’s around 70,000-plus donations a year wasted. So, we really encourage GPs to refer to us so that not only the patient gets treated in an expert environment … but also their blood is then used to make blood products for the Australian community.’
 
The AJGP study aimed to investigate the knowledge of donors with haemochromatosis, as well as their compliance and experiences with the condition.
 
For Adam Wray, his life-changing diagnosis of haemochromatosis came at age 45, following leg swelling after a skiing trip. He now donates monthly at Lifeblood’s Perth Blood Donor Centre to reduce his iron levels and has made 21 donations, saving 60 lives.
 
He was there on 2 September alongside RACGP WA Chair and Vice President Dr Ramya Raman and Dr Bentley to donate blood, saying he has been lucky to have the support from his GP.
 
‘My doctor was quite keen on having that [donating] done,’ he said.
 
‘There’s a fair bit of blood that needs to be dumped, and if somebody else can use the 10 and a half litres I’ve given so far, then that’s great.’

Lifeblood Senior Medical Officer Dr Peter Bentley with RACGP WA Chair and Vice President Dr Ramya Raman at the Perth Blood Donor Centre. (Image: Australian Red Cross Lifeblood)
 
Dr Raman reminded GPs to discuss with their patients with haemochromatosis to donate through Lifeblood, and to use the referral tool for eligible patients.
 
‘It’s profound to have something as important as blood donation be part of how you provide care,’ she said.
 
‘The High Ferritin App can help GPs discuss care and enable easier referral pathways. Referrals are as simple as several questions about a patient’s health and history, contact information, and Lifeblood takes care of the rest.’
 
GPs can continue to manage their patients’ condition and adjust venesection schedules as required.
 
Dr Raman says treating haemochromatosis by donating blood is easier, free, and ‘truly rewarding’, with the recent expansion of donation eligibility a good opportunity for GPs to review how they manage iron overload.
 
‘It’s a win-win,’ she said. ‘Patients receive essential treatment, and their donations help others.’
 
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blood donation haemochromatosis high ferritin Lifeblood therapeutic venesection