Blood donor clinic reopens

Staff retrained after nearly year-long strike

Image | Blood bags

Caption: Blood donors will be able to donate in Charlottetown again, starting Tuesday. (Katie Breen/CBC)

Blood donors are able to give blood in Charlottetown again, following a nearly year-long work strike.
The Canadian Blood Services clinic on Fitzroy St. reopened Tuesday, for the first time since fall of 2015.
Blood collection workers voted to accept a new contract offer from their employer and return to work in late August. Workers have been training on new systems since.

Some changes at the clinic

There have been some changes at Canadian Blood Services in Charlottetown.
"Folks will see a brand new clinic environment — it's been renovated since we were away," said Peter MacDonald, director of donor relations for Canadian Blood Services in Atlantic Canada.
"We are very excited to be back in business in Charlottetown."
Donors will no longer have to fill out a paper copy of their record of donation. Instead, they have the option to complete one in advance, if they have an appointment and a profile. Donors can also complete it with the automated system at the clinic.

Bringing back existing donors

"We have focused our efforts on bringing our donors back to existing donor base," MacDonald said, adding that the next two weeks are almost fully booked.
The clinic will focus on encouraging new donors more in the new year.
Canadian Blood Services in Charlottetown is open regularly Tuesday through Friday.