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Original poster

'only way to find out your blood group is to give blood'???

126 replies

52andblue · 29/03/2021 09:02

I called my GP to find out my blood group.
I was told 'not on your records unless you've given blood'
I have given birth and had recent surgery so surely it would be on there?
I was told the only way to find out is to give blood?
My kids are at a different GP. I was told their blood groups also 'not avail'. I have recollections of a 'green book' when they were babies but they are now nearly 14 and 17 so probably long lost.

They are joining Cadets and want the wee dog tags which say which blood group you are. It's not essential but surely it should be possible to find out without giving blood or trying to phone hospital where I gave birth (the other suggestion) ? Do I have to pay for a SAR?

OP posts:
DGRossetti · 29/03/2021 13:53

Incidentally, US industries will be asking Uncle Sam to get the Brits to pay for their considerable costs of Brexit. It's not cheap having to copy extremely complex economic and political relationships into a new country. But that's what they have to do.

So this move is simply the start of that. Plenty more where they came from.

DGRossetti · 29/03/2021 13:54

[quote Jaxhog]@DGRossetti I'm also diabetic, and it was suggested due to travelling in some out of the way places.[/quote]
Ah - makes more sense now.

gurglebelly · 29/03/2021 14:00

I got a test off Amazon

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about these subjects:

Antenatal & postnatal Families General health
RunnerDown · 29/03/2021 14:05

If you went into hospital and required emergency surgery they would never rely on an entry in your case notes for blood type . What if it was wrong. They would always cross match blood as an emergency at the time.
So no need for it to be in GP notes

Frogartist · 29/03/2021 14:08

Order a copy of your maternity notes from the hospital, should be on there.

TurquoiseDragon · 29/03/2021 14:13

@wonderstuff

I know I'm O- because I had to have anti-D injections in pregnancy, seems strange they don't keep that on your notes. Both kids were tested at birth because I'm Rh- and both were O+ so dh must be.

I looked into giving blood recently as I'm able to for first time, but they've really reduced the amount of blood they collect over last few years and there were no appointments near me for months. I assume they don't really need blood products from people who aren't rare blood types.

Get in touch with the donor people if you want to give blood.

All Oneg donors are given a higher priority fir things like appointments andmay well be able to squeeze you in somethereal.

Also part of the reason for reduced appointments in my area is that covid testing and vaccination has bumped blood donation out of spaces that they had previously used.

We used to have 2 places in town. One is still available the other is the vaccination centre now. And other potential halls have not opened up for whatever reason.

DGRossetti · 29/03/2021 14:18

All Oneg donors are given a higher priority for things like appointments and may well be able to squeeze you in somethereal.

That's simply not true.

As I said, I gave up after not being able to get an appointment and being told quite bluntly not to even think about turning up without.

I complained about this 10 years ago, so it's not new.

cookiemonster5 · 29/03/2021 14:25

I know all my families blood types. I know mine from pregnant as I'm negative, I know all my kids because they were checked at birth incase I needed more anti-d injections and I know my husbands because he used to work offshore and it was a requirement.

Your file will say it's most likely the receptionist didn't have access to that information.

BigPaperBag · 29/03/2021 14:26

Glad I’m not the only one who has no idea.

BigPaperBag · 29/03/2021 14:28

@DGRossetti

All Oneg donors are given a higher priority for things like appointments and may well be able to squeeze you in somethereal.

That's simply not true.

As I said, I gave up after not being able to get an appointment and being told quite bluntly not to even think about turning up without.

I complained about this 10 years ago, so it's not new.

It’s true in our area. My DH has O negative. He’s got a priority hotline number to call. Last week he got sent a letter listing at least 20 appointment times for him to go in as they were so desperate for him to bleed!
Shezlon · 29/03/2021 14:28

I agree with DGRosetti, I'm O- and had no end of trouble trying to get appointments when I returned to blood donation after having babies. As it turned out, I was then diagnosed with pernicious anaemia so can't donate now anyway but they by no means prioritise o-. At the time I was trying to get appointments they were constantly advertising trying to get o- people to sign up but could never offer me an appointment! Bonkers.

DGRossetti · 29/03/2021 14:37

@Shezlon

I agree with DGRosetti, I'm O- and had no end of trouble trying to get appointments when I returned to blood donation after having babies. As it turned out, I was then diagnosed with pernicious anaemia so can't donate now anyway but they by no means prioritise o-. At the time I was trying to get appointments they were constantly advertising trying to get o- people to sign up but could never offer me an appointment! Bonkers.
That's pretty much what happened to DS. Aged 18. As I said, he's not going back. (Although that was how we found out he was O-ve).

You couldn't book you next appointment at the mobile session as you were leaving so were told to "look online" for slots for the next session. Which I did in front of the nurse to show it was booked solid. And the one after that.

They did suggest I look further afield, but frankly at my age, there's only so much work I can put into doing someone else a favour.

This is Birmingham though. When I lived in London I was on a priority register because not only am I O-ve, but CMV-ve. Which is essential for neonatal births who might have serious complications from CMV+ve blood. Or so I was told.

www.blood.co.uk/news-and-campaigns/the-donor/special-blood-for-babies

The shame of it was I used to take DS with me to give blood since he was about 8 or 9. He loved it and so looked forward to "helping others like Daddy". At least he's learned that life rarely goes as planned.

Clockingon · 29/03/2021 14:52

My youngest two had bloods taken at birth due to potential complications so we found out their bloods groups then, however it's not standard practice to take dc blood at birth. Dc1 we found out when they had sn operation (same with me). Do your maternity notes shoe yours? My youngest two dcs blood groups were written in their red books so you may find it there if they had bloods taken.

Waxonwaxoff0 · 29/03/2021 15:07

@BashfulClam

I know mine from giving blood. If people don’t give blood when they are medically able to then I judge them.
I'm medically able but I'm also a single parent so I can't always get to appointments.
DGRossetti · 29/03/2021 15:21

I'm not quite as harsh as BashfulClam but I do think the number of people that actually get off their arses and give blood is a sorry fraction of those that could.

However, given the deterioration in the appointments system, it's hard to be overly critical.

Mind you, "British Blood" might have some value as a product. Who fancies taking on this export challenge ?

Elphame · 29/03/2021 15:27

Having a GA for the first time last year I just asked at the pre admission Covid test a couple of weeks after my pre -op bloods and assessment as I knew they'd have recorded it in case I need a blood TV.

Original poster
52andblue · 29/03/2021 15:29

@MichelleScarn

*'to look Gucci'? NO. They have Autism. They've got it in their heads that it would be 'excellently most correct' to have these tags. It's important to them and (maybe) could be useful & they're on sale for £2 each so why not?*

Well ok, I was trying to help....
I am assuming you mean Army Cadets, and 'looking Gucci' is Army chat, or well was in the 90s, someone who wanted to look 'cool' just because.
I inferred as am sure others have that you were expecting them to be issue ones, not ones you were planning to buy.

@MichelleScarn -

I am sorry if I came across as grumpy, I just didn't see how £1.99 dog tags could be construed as 'Gucci' ('flashy'?).
Now I do, so thanks that's helpful to know re the slang!

Looks like I won't be ordering them until (and if!) I can find out their blood groups. It was only meant to be a wee extra bit of fun for them but perhaps its better left alone.

Glad I started the thread though as I've had some great advice and clearly it's not that straightforward so a useful discussion for others too.

OP posts:
TroysMammy · 29/03/2021 15:32

@SeasonFinale I'm one of the hated on MN and yes your son would be able to get his vaccinations immediately especially if he is quite young or his surgery has the staff to transfer information from paper notes to computer records. Blood group information is not known or recorded as I suppose there is no need for GP's to have this information. Hospitals on the other hand.

DGRossetti · 29/03/2021 15:41

Blood group information is not known or recorded as I suppose there is no need for GP's to have this information.

That may yet change ... there's some evidence that a persons blood type (which is an expression of their genome) can have some effect on their reactions to disease and medication. As was noted last year ...

www.nature.com/articles/s41467-020-19623-x

Associations between blood type and COVID-19 infection, intubation, and death

CovidCorvid · 29/03/2021 15:42

At the hospital I work at the notes from a pregnancy 14 years ago would have been paper not electronic. They are a separate set from general medical notes. For a set not used within a certain time frame they are put into a storage facility at a unit 40 miles away. Nobody is looking stuff up unless really needed.

ALongHardWinter · 29/03/2021 15:45

I was told mine when I was pregnant,all of 38 years ago!

Magpiecomplex · 29/03/2021 15:48

My blood group was wrong on my maternity notes! I only discovered after I'd been discharged...

MountainDweller · 29/03/2021 16:50

@DGRossetti

I'm not quite as harsh as BashfulClam but I do think the number of people that actually get off their arses and give blood is a sorry fraction of those that could.

However, given the deterioration in the appointments system, it's hard to be overly critical.

Mind you, "British Blood" might have some value as a product. Who fancies taking on this export challenge ?

British Blood is interdit here in France - at least if you lived in Britain in the 80s/90s, due to BSE fears Grin
olympicsrock · 29/03/2021 17:00

No one had their blood group tested unless there may be a need for them to be given a blood transfusion or an organ donation ( or if they are a donor) . Unfortunately the GP often does not have the access to hospital tests. However if you download the NHS app ( not teach ans trace), you can access test results accross organisations. I have just tried it ... winner!

DGRossetti · 29/03/2021 17:03

British Blood is interdit here in France - at least if you lived in Britain in the 80s/90s, due to BSE fears

Hmm, looks like we need another plan then.

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