The labour crisis in Western Australia caused by the pandemic is exacerbating a blood supply shortage that is affecting the whole country.
In November it was announced that blood supplies in Australia had fallen to their lowest levels in 10 years, and the Red Cross said the situation had not improved.
Lifeblood executive director for donor services Cath Stone said finding workers to cover staff who contracted COVID-19 had been difficult.
She said it had affected the operating hours at multiple donation centres.
"We've managed to maintain being open, even if we've had to cut [opening] hours.
"We're seeing a higher rate of sick leave in our teams."
Labour shortages are the latest in a list of challenges caused by the pandemic.
Ms Stone said while the demand for blood was high, cancellations from donors remained a significant problem.
She said the return of elective surgeries that were delayed because of the pandemic were starting to ramp up at high volumes.
"People put off important checks for things like cancer; now we're seeing an increased rate of treatment.
"We expect that to continue for quite some time."
Every state across the country was experiencing the pandemic differently, she added.
Elective surgery still winding back up
Australian Medical Association WA president Mark Duncan-Smith said while elective surgery was taking off in the eastern states, WA was yet to return to full capacity.
Dr Duncan-Smith said because elective surgery was reduced in WA, he expected the demand for blood in the state to be lower than in eastern states.
"I think from a WA state-based point of view, I would expect the demand on blood stocks would be reduced compared to normal."
Ms Stone said WA was still experiencing demand for blood, however, because each state across the country experienced the pandemic differently and the demand was slightly different.
She said the Australian Red Cross continued to do all it could to meet the need for blood, which "remains every single day of the year".
