4 Winter flu season drives emergency blood shortages Ongoing shortages of type O and A blood supplies have prompted an urgent call for an extra 3,000 Queenslanders to donate immediately, as peak winter illness keeps donors away and emergency orders remain high. Australian Red Cross Lifeblood says recent appeals have prevented supplies falling to critical levels but have not been enough to replenish low supplies of O-positive and O-negative blood types, which are the types used in emergencies. A-positive blood stocks have also dropped in recent weeks. Around 8,000 units of blood, plasma and platelets are issued nationally as urgent or life-threatening orders every month, meaning they must be dispatched within as little as 30 minutes to support patients in critical situations. At the same time, winter illness is hindering donations. A new Lifeblood survey found almost 40 per cent of Australians have recently experienced cold, flu or respiratory illness symptoms. Lifeblood spokesperson Belinda Smetioukh said this wipes out potentially thousands of people from donating, as blood donors need to be seven days clear of symptoms before they can donate. “Nationally we’re seeing up to 1,600 donation appointments sit empty every day, with many more people cancelling or rescheduling appointments,” Belinda said. “Even mild symptoms such as sniffles, sore throats, and headaches make people temporarily ineligible to give blood, and this can severely impact the availability of donors during winter months. “Only three per cent of Australians donate blood. We’re asking people not to leave it to others — our regular donors alone cannot sustain supplies through winter, and we need more people to step up.” Belinda said O-negative and O-positive blood are particularly important because they are often used in emergencies when a patient’s blood type is unknown. “Patients in critical situations will always get the blood they need, but full fridges are essential to ensuring blood is available for everyone who needs it, when they need it,” she said. “This includes cancer patients, new mothers, people undergoing surgery, and many other patients, including children who need donated blood to save their lives.” Belinda urged people who don’t know their blood type to donate, with more than 80 per cent of Australians having an O or A blood type. To book a donation, call 13 14 95, visit lifeblood.com.au or download the Lifeblood app. What Assets Do and Do Not Form Part of a Will in Queensland A common misconception in estate planning is that a Will controls all of a person’s assets. In Queensland, this is not the case. A Will only deals with assets that form part of the deceased estate at the time of death. Many assets pass outside the Will automatically due to the way they are owned or structured. Understanding this distinction is essential to ensure an estate plan reflects a person’s true intentions. Assets That Form Part of a Will (Estate Assets) A Will generally deals with assets solely owned by the deceased that do not pass automatically to another person. These commonly include: • Real property owned in the deceased’s sole name • Bank accounts held in the deceased’s sole name • Personal possessions (jewellery, vehicles, furniture, artwork) • Shares and investments held personally • Business interests held in the individual’s name • Tax refunds, wages owing, and personal debts owed to the deceased These assets are distributed according to the terms of the Will (or under intestacy if no valid Will exists). Assets That Do NOT Form Part of a Will Some assets pass outside the estate and are not controlled by the Will: Jointly owned assets - Assets held as joint tenants automatically pass to the surviving owner by right of survivorship, including jointly owned property and joint bank accounts. Superannuation - Superannuation is generally not an estate asset. It is distributed according to a binding death benefit nomination or the trustee’s discretion. Life insurance - Life insurance proceeds usually pass directly to the nominated beneficiary and do not form part of the estate. Trust assets - Assets held in a trust are owned by the trustee, not the individual personally, and are not distributed under a Will. Company assets - Assets owned by a company are not personal assets. Only shares in the company form part of the estate. Nominated beneficiary assets - Some financial products pass by nomination and override the Will. Key Point A Will only controls assets that are legally part of the deceased estate. Assets held jointly, in superannuation, in trusts, or with nominated beneficiaries may pass outside the Will entirely. For this reason, effective estate planning requires more than just a Will, it also requires careful consideration of ownership structures and beneficiary nominations. Contact Us If you would like advice about your Will, estate planning, or understanding how your assets will be distributed, please contact Hilton Hartley on (07) 5610 8060 to arrange a consultation. We can assist you in ensuring your estate planning documents accurately reflect your wishes and minimise the risk of disputes or unintended outcomes. See advert front cover
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