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Original poster

If you can, please make donating blood a news year resolution...

118 replies

Thorilicious · 20/12/2021 10:30

I've only been able to donate once this year, but was booked in for 3 appointments. These had to be cancelled due to Covid in the house, but that's 2 pints that could have saved someone's life.
I appreciate some people can't or don't feel comfortable donating blood, but if it's something that you've always thought about doing, make 2022 the year you sign up.
Plus, you get biscuits at the end of your session!

OP posts:
Yellow85 · 20/12/2021 13:10

@girlmom21 Glasgow

Mangozesty · 20/12/2021 13:14

Get my 34th donation booked for Friday Smile

TreesoftheField · 20/12/2021 13:18

Used to donate a lot when you could walk in. Now I can't get an appointment at all!

ghostmouse · 20/12/2021 13:19

I’ve given before but can’t now, i had a blood transfusion in 2007, shame really as I’m o neg

CaptainCallisto · 20/12/2021 13:20

I've had five appointments cancelled this year (all at the last minute) so it's the longest I've ever gone between donations. It's been re-booked again for mid-January so fingers crossed I'll actually get to do it this time!

It used to be so much easier. The blood van came to the local library twice a year and you just turned up. Now we can't donate in the village at all, the nearest town has sessions once in a blue moon (which get booked out in minutes and are frequently cancelled), and it's a 45 minute drive to the next nearest place or over an hour on public transport. I'm not surprised they're short of donors - they've made it almost impossible to actually do it!

batmanladybird · 20/12/2021 13:24

Are you allowed to donate if you have acupuncture

Monolithique · 20/12/2021 13:30

Sorry but no. I used to donate regularly.
It has become harder , the last time I tried there were no appointments for 6 months and thats too far ahead for me.
I then wrote to them to ask why it was so hard to book appointments and they basically said they no longer need as much blood as previously as they are more efficient.

I suspect my blood type is not as needed as others.
I have however recently sent off a swab for being on a database for bone marrow.

GiltEdges · 20/12/2021 13:34

Can't even give blood away in my area unfortunately. I've just checked again and exactly the same as every other time I've tried, the next available appointment isn't until 19th April 2022 and is a 45 minute drive from my house. For reference I only live 2 miles outside a major (northern) city, so it really doesn't feel like it should be this hard.

I'm blood type O- and as a universal donor find it very frustrating not to be able to do my bit.

TrexDrip · 20/12/2021 13:40

Blood transfusion saved my life and I would love to donate but they wont allow me to because it was in 2000. Really wish I could as am A- as well which is less common.

RunAwayNow · 20/12/2021 13:43

I'm also unable to donate because of previous transfusions, but I'll be forever grateful to those of you who do. Thanks to you, my daughters still have a mother Flowers

CoachBeard · 20/12/2021 13:44

I’m O- and have donated regularly for years. It’s definitely got more difficult to find a local donation centre but I have only had to reschedule once during the pandemic and that was because the nearest place was 25 miles away, my car was off the road and I didn’t want to risk public transport in the middle of lockdown.

SolasAnla · 20/12/2021 13:44

Thanks for the reminder

If anyone want to donate and your blood is an "unpopular" group ask about platelet donation in your local area. It's used in cancer treatments and you need strong veins (man veins are generally better for this) as the blood is returned back to you minus the bits they need.

ladygindiva · 20/12/2021 13:46

Weirdly I've just been rung by the NHS requesting me to give blood. Asking for details. It was about an hour after receiving my booster. Also I am B negative. Not sure if I have been singled out? I thought it was a scam but I checked the number and it really was NHS.

weegiemum · 20/12/2021 13:53

I can't donate as I have regular treatment with a blood product.

I'd like to say a huge Thankyou to those of you who do though. I'd be bedbound without it.

TheGriffle · 20/12/2021 13:55

I’m already booked in to donate on the 31st. I’ve had to cancel the last 2 apps due to covid and still having symptoms. It will be my last goodwill gesture of the year as I’ve only managed to do it once this year.

jackstini · 20/12/2021 14:09

Another that can't due to a transfusion in 2006

A massive thank you to all of you that do - I wouldn't be here without you and neither would dd Thanks

I do wonder if they could do more with asking in hospitals etc. like they do in US

Also do they send a van round the prisons? Maybe donate as a way of paying back society

TorySteller · 20/12/2021 14:19

I have my 5th donation booked for next March, as women need to wait 16 weeks between donations.

I’ve had a couple of appointments cancelled previously, some of them literally hours before my appointment time. It is frustrating as I get constant texts saying they need my blood type.

But definitely do it if you can!

minipie · 20/12/2021 14:21

I had to cancel my appointment a few weeks ago because DD had covid at the time.

Have re booked for next year

Also: Please get your partners to donate, men give blood much less than women. DH started donating recently and his veins are so “good” that he’s all done in minutes!

fourdayholiday · 20/12/2021 14:24

My next donation is in March. Thank you OP for raising this.

Bloodybridget · 20/12/2021 14:27

I wish I could, and I thank everyone who does.

Lupinspotato · 20/12/2021 14:34

Thanks OP for this post. Used to donate and fell out of the habit. I’m now booked in for Jan.

Whitney168 · 20/12/2021 14:49

@LadyDanburysHat

My hg levels were too low last time I went, so can't go again until July 2022. But I will be back as soon as I'm able.

I've only donate a couple of times, pretty new to it. But will keep going back.

When they referred me to doctor and bounced me for a year, they were happy to take me back earlier when I had tests to say all was fine again. I do have a tendency to run low though, nowt wrong with me but am often a bit borderline - they nearly always accept me fine when they put my blood in the little red machine.

Anyway, if you are keen to, you might be able to get back earlier. Obviously not appropriate if it's more of an issue than mine.

57 donations down for me. Should have gone this month, but had the 'supercold' so have had to move, and February soonest available in reasonable travelling distance. I am a bit obsessed though, so will check now and then to see if I can get something earlier.

This thread has just reminded me that in the chaos of works on the house and a new puppy, I've stopped taking the ferrous fumarate I take two or three times a week to keep it topped up - must get back on that to make sure I'm OK for February!

Monolithique · 20/12/2021 15:07

As pp mentioned it was DKMS that I signed up for.
Al Murray was on the radio talking about it. Very easy to do, just needed to send off a swab.

MissyB1 · 20/12/2021 15:31

Anyone know how long after breast cancer you can donate? I am cancer free now, diagnosis was 5 years ago, but I still take tablets to stop it coming back. Can’t seem to find out if I can donate.

Whitney168 · 20/12/2021 15:35

@MissyB1

Anyone know how long after breast cancer you can donate? I am cancer free now, diagnosis was 5 years ago, but I still take tablets to stop it coming back. Can’t seem to find out if I can donate.
You can't, unfortunately.

Lots of reasons people can't though, so good on you for trying but not for you any more. You could try and convince someone else to take it up on your behalf? LOL

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