Blood donations - still important?

[ChinBristles]

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

I’m O+ and have been donating regularly for 20 years. Recently I’ve switched between donating blood and donating plasma, which can be done more frequently. If you can, please donate! And not just because you get a penguin or a club at the end ;)

I was literally holding my arm out saying “take it!” and they weren’t interested.

I donated pretty regularly (3-4x a year) when they did drop ins but there don't tend to be drop in appointments now and I never really know what I'll be doing 12 weeks in advance!
I'm also another one put off by masks, it's just a bit to panic making for me. I might try to resume over the summer as this has reminded me.

I’m a regular donor and think the appointment thing has made it better, in that I’ve waited hours in drop in sessions before and the staff couldn’t tell you how long it would be whereas with an appointment it takes one hour max.

The large shopping centre at Westfield Stratford has a fixed centre now in one of the empty shop units which is a great idea and hopefully to be extended elsewhere.

I donate now and again and apparently have R0 blood so get countless emails and letters asking me to donate. The problem is that the centre is only open during working hours... when I'm working.

There are loads of adverts at the moment for giving plasma so I think they are pushing that more at the moment. I’ve seen two permanent plasma donation centres open up as well - where I give blood is just a community hall. I gave blood on Monday and we didn’t need to wear masks any more. I didn’t find it too hard to make an appointment either. I’m O+ so they always want me!

Hello all!

I successfully donated my pint today so I thought I'd updated you on what I found out! (in Edinburgh)

Yes, blood donation is still v important - however they have plenty of donors atm. If stocks get low, they send texts out asking existing donors to come forward again.

Chances are the blood will be used within a month, and most commonly for a woman in childbirth.

They occasionally still do blood drives but it's not economical anymore.

After I gave today, I found out that my AWFUL downstairs neighbours are moving so I feel like I'm being rewarded!

Yipeee!!

Well done! I donated a couple of weeks ago, just after this thread, all went smoothly. I got my text a week or so later telling me which hospital it's gone to which is always nice.

Nice one re neighbours too!

The mobile centre used to come to my work twice a year. It was so handy. I have to admit if I could still give blood the thought of having to trail into town specially would really put me off.

Yes, I can make an appt for late afternoon and go on the way home from work so it is nice and easy but might be less inclined if it wasn't so convenient.

Since the twentieth century the NHS uses much less blood. It's largely because so much routine surgery is now done keyhole with minimal blood loss. Partly because we have fewer catastrophic industrial injuries and road collisions. Partly because research has made the NHS more aware of the various subtle risks of blood transfusion for the recipient, so they are more inclined to save it for absolute life and death situations.

But we still need a fair amount. I give at the West End Donor Centre in London and never have any trouble getting a convenient appointment within a couple of weeks' notice. If you or your relative have just had a transfusion at Conquest Hospital, St Leonard's then that was mine - I hope it was yummy.

I think employers should be more supportive; it depends on your job I know but you shouldn't need to take annual leave to donate, they should give you the time off.

Interestingly I have today received a letter with the details of my next session...and an email cancelling that session (or at least, my appointment). And my local centre is no longer on the website as an option. They don't seem to do much in the summer, but surely they still need blood in the summer, people don't magically stop needing it.

I don't donate very often as it really messes up my running so I have to time it around races etc. I know that sounds selfish but I've donated about 35 times in my life, which is 35 times more than most people who could but don't.

Since the twentieth century the NHS uses much less blood. It's largely because so much routine surgery is now done keyhole with minimal blood loss. Partly because we have fewer catastrophic industrial injuries and road collisions. Partly because research has made the NHS more aware of the various subtle risks of blood transfusion for the recipient, so they are more inclined to save it for absolute life and death situations

That is really interesting, I was wondering whether they just don't need as much these days. Although I assume lots of women still need it following childbirth.

As someone who has leukemia and is currently having very regular transfusions im hugely grateful to those who donate.

If any donors are interested in joining the bone marrow register you can also saves lives
www.dkms.org.uk/

The most common way this is done is through IV much like a blood donation and you can register through a home swab kit.

Currently awaiting my siblings results as it will be part of my treatment plan to have a bone martow transplant but if not i will be dependent on register x

They always have pretty high stocks of my blood (A-) and the person who took my blood last time was so bloody rude I stopped going. I have just discovered my blood group is important for platelet donation however so I will look into this.

They don’t use as much whole blood as they used to. But it’s still important and they still need donors. I am A+ so common and have never had issues getting appointments really and they always say there is demand.

I’m not a saint of any kind - I just don’t find it hard. I’m always a bit confused by the people there shaking. The only blood group that’s difficult to collect is O-.

Definitely try to book your next appointment as soon as you’ve donated. I always do this and never have a problem. Lots of afternoon and evening appointments available near me (north west). If you end up with conflicting plans you can easily cancel the appointment via the app.

The staff I’ve encountered have always made a point of thanking me for taking the time to donate, and I get a lot of comms from them saying that they need donations of my blood type (A+).

@GailTheSnail you are very welcome! I feel pleased that I have done something useful for someone today. I hope your treatment goes well.

I'm on the bone marrow register but was never called and think I'm too old now (39) although if anyone wants it, they can have it!

I used to go every time I was eligible but it was a walk in one so I could just call by on the way home depending on how much time I had.

A combination of it being far harder now you have to book as well as feeling really faint afterwards (never used to feel like that) meant I haven't donated in years.

@GailTheSnail I've just checked and I'm not yet too old! Just getting them to check i'm still registered! :-)

Great link! Amazing that you can sign up via a swab test at home.

I am A+ and used to donate regularly but sadly I am no longer eligible as I had to have a a blood transfusion in 2019

@ditalini I'm O+ and donated in Glasgow for you last Saturday.
They had nice cold cartons of apple juice (or orange) for afterwards and a good biscuit selection.

Also nice, polite staff being super apologetic about trying to find my name on the system. In my case it was because I'd booked last minute but there was a sign up about a new computer system so I suspect they'd had to deal with a few unhappy "customers!"

@ChinBristles excellent news. I have had a lot of friends offer to see if they are a match for me - chances are slim but i always send them that link - didnt realise how easy it was myself til recently

Lost two friends to AIDS due to contaminated blood (brothers, both haemophiliacs) and have donated since I was 17. The new system does make it more predictable but there are issues locally with staffing. I was due to give blood last week and got cancelled with an hour's notice. This is the 3rd or 4th time I've had my appointment cancelled. I tried to rebook but you can't until the day after you were due to donate. I forgot but they called me so I guess they do still need blood. I've donated at a number of different locations locally to try to ensure the gap isn't too long but it's reduced my donations from 3 times a year to 2 on average.

I looked into plasma donation but the nearest centre is at least an hour's drive away.

@Bergamotte yeah, same here, there were signs up saying "don't be a twat to our nurses" or somesuch. Very odd when you'd think the attendees must all, by definition, be quite charitable people!