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

@LadyApplejack they got me to take my mask off during the actual donation so they could see if I went white/faint looking!

I had pints of blood and plasma last year from donations. You good people saved my life

Wouldn't it be a great story if you donated blood to someone who then grew up to be a doctor and saved YOUR life!

@ChinBristles oh that's good then! My next one is 10th August, might say as it's been a while I'm feeling nervous and hope they offer the same for me! Glad it it went well, good for you 👏

This has reminded me I need to make an appt to donate but I'm just getting over Covid so will give it a while.

My veins suck so badly they took me off the list 😔
I was quite upset by it to be honest, wanted to help

I used to donate but after being given a blood transfusion when I was in no state to consent I can't donate any more.

I give blood and it is so important. My daughter's life was saved at birth after 3 blood transfusions so thank you to all the blood donors out there ❤

You've just reminded me to book and I've got a slot in a few weeks. Thank you!

I've tried twice before and been told to go away with becomes of my rubbish veins.

But I've since found out I'm O-, so I'll try one more time!

@Honaloulou glad to be of service! Thank you for doing your bit!

I've just googled and found out that it costs the body 650 cals to replace the pint of blood so even more reason to enjoy biscuits afterwards!

@Honaloulou regardless of blood group though if it’s really difficult for you there is no need to feel bad about that. I assume they have tried both arms? My right is better than my left.

I can't donate anymore as I had a blood transfusion in 1995.

@Teateaandmoretea I've had all sorts of people try all sorts of techniques, and it's never been easy! It doesn't hurt so I'm happy to give it a final go. The main thing I'm worried about is wasting their time, but I'm going to the West End Donor Centre so I hope it's not like I'm going to pointlessly take someone else's only slot for a while.

Just got my text today to say my last donation has been given to someone in Charing Cross Hospital. This has brightened my day! Already booked in for the autumn for the next one.

I'd like to get a text like that but they don't send them in Scotland.

That's a shame. I'd donate anyway, but hearing which hospital got my blood has often reminded me to get on and make that next appointment. I like that personal connection.

I'm wondering when to book my next appt for.
I might book it for 3 months but if my haemoglobin isn't back up then, I will just do it 6 monthly. I don't want to waste the staff's time. But also don't want to donate less than I can.

I think they are more targeted these days to make better use of limited resources.

I got sent a Dear John letter from them years ago telling me to not to call them they'd call me (they never have) because my AB+ blood is fairly useless and more trouble than it's worth.

Gutted not to have an excuse to lie down in the middle of the day anymore and have to buy my own biscuits.

@PickleSarnie what a shame! I don't know if it's worse being dumped (for being too rare) or being told (like me) "ooh, you have really common blood!" (A+)

Same here. Constant calls, texts, emails and letters because I'm O-. And then I try and book an appointment and there's nothing available for about 4 months that is convenient.

It was so much simpler in the 90's/00's when I could just turn up at a random location on a day off if I had a couple of hours spare.

I donate then when I get home book my next appointment.
Although my last six appointments got cancelled ( some as close to half an hour before but all in the same day) and I had to reschedule. When I went to my last appointment I mentioned it and they said it's a massive issue they knew people were just giving up and they didn't blame them.

About one time in three they're vilely rude to me, and the last couple of times I've booked they cancelled. I'm B+ so not the group they're most keen to get, suspect they're trying to discourage me.

My main gripe actually is that it costs me £3.60 on the bus or £10 to park.
But any system to have travel costs refunded for blood donors would be open to abuse. So I chalk it up to overall charity donations.

I'm O- so try to donate, there's been a few years when the kids were young it was just too difficult. But this last time my iron was too low so I couldn't do it. And I have to wait a further 3 months. Btw masks were optional at the session I went to last week and only for the bit where they're taking questions.

How odd. Nobody's ever been rude to me at a donation session, and I've been donating on and off for over 40 years. I've only ever had one cancelled and that was during lockdown but caused by heating issues at the venue.