Giving blood with current situation

[greathat]

I've got an appointment for blood donation coming up. I've been trying to avoid going out as I've got asthma and have had pneumonia previously. My kids also have asthma and ones had pneumonia twice. I can't decide whether to cancel. I know they'll still be needing blood but just not sure of risk. Has anyone given blood since this all kicked off. How was it?

DH donated platelets last week. The beds are 2m apart and everything was very thoroughly sanitised between donors. The nurses were wearing masks.

Giving blood is specifically stated as one of the permitted activities as they need to keep sufficient blood supplies and need donors as so many people won't be able to donate due to illness, self isolation, so if you can donate, you should.

I expect that, as a 'medical' organisation, they've got infection risk well minimised. Maybe give them a call if you're concerned. I would expect that staff will be wearing masks, but the journey there and being 'out' in general will probably be the risky part. Have you been advised to stay in of have you just chosen to?

I have tried to donate blood and apparently they are overwhelmed with the number of people offering. So if you feel the risk to you and your family is too high at the moment don't feel bad about cancelling the appointment.

I gave blood last week. I had a text message asking me to keep my appointment as donations were down. Donations are very targeted now though, so it might depend on your blood type as to whether they'd need you or not. If you're type O (universal donor), I'd guess your donation would be welcome (not an expert).

The website www.blood.co.uk/ is asking people to continue to donate as normal.

I was supposed to donate Saturday, appointment was booked in February, and it was cancelled because of the virus. I assume it was because there weren’t enough nurses available, I’m a first time donor and they’re prioritising existing donors with known blood types. So I would cancel if you aren’t sure as someone like me who’s low risk, could take your place possibly.

I was wondering how they are managing the waiting area, last time I went (Feb, before CV) they were short staffed and behind so there were at least 20 of in the waiting area all sat very close together.

Yes I think it's the waiting area that's the most worrying. I'm not vulnerable enough to be worthy of a letter but with slightly awkward asthma and the nurse at my GP told me to avoid people!

They cancelled my appointment 3 hours beforehand last week.

As a PP said, giving blood is one of the approved reasons for going out. I’ve got an appointment to give blood on Wednesday and I’ve never looked forward to it so much - I’ll actually get to talk to someone who’s not in my household! Fingers crossed it doesn’t get cancelled.

My dh went last week, he's 0- so a priority donor. He said it was quieter than normal.

When I went the other day, there was no waiting area. You arrived at your appointment time, and shouted to a nurse inside to say that you hadn’t had any symptoms of covid, then you were let into the building. Paperwork was all done sitting on the blood donor couch, so no communal waiting area required. Afterwards, I was bought a drink and snack to the couch, so no communal snack area.

All very sanitary and proper distancing this morning.

I got a text on Friday asking me not to to donate this weekend past as blood stocks were healthy. Must depend on your area.

We were only allowed in at our scheduled time and all the chairs in the waiting area were quite far apart.

Each area will have requirements for different types of blood and will manage donations locally.

I'm B+, so reasonably rare (8%), which is maybe why I was asked to keep my appointment.