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Original poster

Blood donations - still important?

128 replies

ChinBristles · 23/06/2022 20:35

Hello

When I were a lass in the 90s, there were lots of adverts about giving blood, how important it was. And blood drives and vans coming round to make it easy to donate.

In my city in Scotland there is only ONE blood donor centre and I never hear of vans or adverts.

I know there are more synthetic options now but why is much less of a thing now? (I have booked in to start giving again, now that I no longer get tattooes etc!)

Thanks

OP posts:
Wombat27A · 23/06/2022 22:40

It's got more regular here again (Wales) , no masks & very slick.

Tho I got to learn about chemsex this last time, every day's a school day.

Snoopsnoggysnog · 23/06/2022 22:42

JiminyGlick · 23/06/2022 21:46

I don't really understand how so many people don't donate blood. If you can, you should.

We all expect blood to be available in an emergency.

I have veins like gossamer which makes it hard for the phlebotomists. I am often anaemic, but I still go every time I am due. I do sometimes get sent away due to hb levels, and usually feel pretty rough for a few hours afterwards - but I still go.

Most people can breeze in and out and feel perfectly fine and I just don't understand why more people don't feel obliged to donate. It's a tiny inconvenience that can save a life.

Me too.

I just about weigh enough (slim build), very tricky veins and am prone to fainting.

I usually donate once a year around Christmas when I’m off work as it takes me a day to recover.

After I had my DC (complicated story) I wanted to “give something back” so that was my way of doing it.

I can’t understand why healthy people don’t do it. My DH has never done it, he’s squeamish but won’t admit it. I might have been the same but having babies quickly gets you over that.

ditalini · 23/06/2022 22:46

Hope there's Brew & Cake for you @ExtremelyDedicated

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about this subject:

General health
PermanentTemporary · 23/06/2022 22:54

It's annoying to be rung up saying they urgently need my blood and then they search for an appointment and it's 2 months off. But it's very convenient (fixed centre i walk past every day) so it's bearable. I wish drop ins still happened but I guess this must work better.

sanityisamyth · 23/06/2022 22:59

I'd love to give more but I'm AB+ and it's so rare it's useless!

creamcheeseandlox · 23/06/2022 23:02

I am ab+ and they don't want my blood at the moment so haven't been able to donate for months. Only 2% of people are ab+ and so it's just not in demand, it's not for want of me trying.

SheldonesqueTheBstard · 23/06/2022 23:03

I say shortly - it is about 15 weeks away ditalini

Go with extremelydedicated 😁

We are still wearing masks although we are asked to remove them when actually donating.

And yes, as said above, there are quite a few local sessions over the year in Scotland.

And the advert for donating has just appeared on the telly. 🩸

perenniallymessy · 23/06/2022 23:03

LadyApplejack · 23/06/2022 21:34

O-neg too and can't seem to get anything locally any more.

I also hate that masks are still mandated throughout the process. I find donating painful and a chore, wearing a mask for 45 mins is just another off-put for me.

I actually put off donating due to the masks. Wearing one when donating just makes me feel a bit panicky and I felt like I'd pass out. I don't know why as I'm normally fine with donating, fine with masks and I don't faint. But still I just felt a bit too close to a panic attack for comfort. I had to walk out of one session as soon as I got there as I couldn't face it. It doesn't help that they won't give you the lidocaine injection now either so it is more painful.

I did manage to donate again recently, with mask. But given you don't need them in any other medical setting now it seems strange they are persisting.

We have a donor centre nearby I use and sometimes you have to wait months for an appointment and other times there are loads. They booked me in that week last time they called, which was lucky as I couldn't get myself worked up about donating.

Amybelle88 · 23/06/2022 23:03

SO important - I've had cancer so can't donate but I really, really wish I could.

5 weeks after massive surgery to remove my pancreatic tumour and a fair bit of my organs to boot, I had pancreatic acid burn through my femoral artery at home and blood donation, without a shadow of a doubt, saved my life. I was only 28 at the time - it was petrifying.

I'm A- blood type so whilst I know it's not super rare, I was told it's on the rarer side, so donation is vital.

Thank you for signing up to donate again, honestly, if it wasn't for people like you my kids wouldn't have a mum. I don't know who my donor or donors are obviously, I wish I did, but I suppose that means I can say thank you to everyone and mean it from the bottom of my heart ❤️

BurscoughBooths · 23/06/2022 23:09

I used to donate when they had a drop in session in the city centre right next to my work - I could nip out of work when it was quiet.
Now I’d need to do a 20 mile round trip AND book in advance which is really inconvenient and would involve using annual leave.

I’d willingly donate locally on a drop in basis

motogirl · 23/06/2022 23:11

Dp donates blood, they seemed keener for men than women. It's not very convenient though as they didn't have appointments after 6pm and he works.

SirenSays · 23/06/2022 23:13

I always used to donate but they've made it so hard. My regular donation centre downsized and now every time I go it takes ages to even get started.

Vinorosso74 · 23/06/2022 23:14

It is still important. I used to donate, made it to 41 but have had cancer so I can't donate ever again.
A few years ago, during my donation, the head of NHS blood and transplant was going around chatting to people. I mentioned I used to donate at the local premier league football stadium which was really handy, he said they stopped using it as it was too expensive. He did say they were moving towards more fixed donor centres due to costs.

Chattycathydoll · 23/06/2022 23:14

Transfusions saved my life after losing blood with DD’s birth.

If you can donate- please do! I’m so grateful to whoever donated for me and you never know who your donation might save <3

motogirl · 23/06/2022 23:15

Unfortunately I'm anemic and take a medication that isn't compatible with donation otherwise I will. Both my DD's donate, they are a+

shalalala · 23/06/2022 23:21

Please please do donate.

MumofSpud · 23/06/2022 23:23

LemonySippet · 23/06/2022 21:31

My husband had blood cancer, had countless blood transfusions and I am eternally grateful for each and every one as he wouldn't still be here otherwise. Giving blood is so important. If you follow your local blood donation service on Facebook they'll tell you each time they open up the next block of slots and you'll be able to book.

I'd imagine like everything else, any lack of availability is down to budget cuts. Please remember the actual lifesaving donations at the end of it, people's spouses, children, parents, are real people. The blood service are not trying to personally inconvenience you by making booking an appointment awkward.

My DH too - so I signed up to donate - the appt I got was 2 months away - it was cancelled and I made another one - the nearest date was August!

Forgothowmuchlhatehomeschoolin · 23/06/2022 23:33

They closed my.local donation centre and the times to the next nearest one are too late as l need tonget back for the school run so l can't donate any more due to logostics

Weclome · 23/06/2022 23:38

I find it really frustrating trying to donate blood here in Scotland.
I'm B* and get asked to donate regularly but as it is by appt only and the sessions only take place every 12 weeks, it is impossible to book as all the slots are booked up.

The sessions used to be open sessions meaning you knew to turn up on that day and they'd happily take your donation.
If they are requiring donations they need to make it easier for people to donate

Cherryblossoms85 · 23/06/2022 23:41

I've given up. Can't get through on the phone, website doesn't work well, no slots in the evenings when you do get through. But apparently there's still plenty of money to pump kids full of hormones and remove body parts...

TinaYouFatLard · 23/06/2022 23:42

As a blood donor recipient I would just like to jump on with a big thank you. You and people like you saved my life.

CPandme · 23/06/2022 23:54

Another grateful recipient here. Donors don’t just help people who actually get blood. Years before my transfusion my routine but very serious surgery would not have gone ahead unless there was blood/plasma on standby.

Thank you 😊 especially those with thin veins. I have cerebral palsy and one side has horrid veins,

EBearhug · 23/06/2022 23:56

I should have donated this evening, but I had an upset stomach yesterday, so I postponed it, till August. I could have given earlier locally, but the times didn't suit me so well.

HaveringWavering · 23/06/2022 23:57

ChatterMonkey · 23/06/2022 21:11

Im O-, so get hounded to book an appointment. Phone calls, texts, emails, letters. Constantly.

But then when i go to book an appointment there's nothing nearby at all, so I can't book an appointment to stop getting hounded.

Me too. And when I eventually did manage to book one, for 12:15, I turned up to be told that due to some problem with the setup of the venue that morning anyone who had an appointment before 12:30 was being turned away.

“But I’m O neg” I said. “You keep calling me and begging me for my blood. You really can’t fit me in? You’re bound to have a few no-shows”.

“Sorry, we can’t take it”.

“would it not be better to turn away someone who’s not O neg?”
”Sorry your appointment is cancelled”

I’d taken leave from work and everything, because having had family members who have needed transfusions I believe very strongly in donating. But they do not make it easy..

EBearhug · 23/06/2022 23:58

I find the website works well for me, and I could find evening appointments not that far ahead. I wonder if there are regional differences?