NHS has issued it's first ever Amber alert for blood supplies

[BluSquid]

news.sky.com/story/nhs-declares-first-amber-alert-as-blood-supplies-drop-low-12718647

They need more donations, especially O-. They're talking about postponing non-critical surgeries, which have probably already been delayed so much thanks to covid.

I take Fluoadix too and have an iron rich diet. I think I just function on a lower level of iron than the average. I am a competitive runner - fit and healthy. It's frustrating as they come over and talk to me when my iron is low as if I'm some frail, thin thing.

Thankfully we're an hour from a largr blood donor centre so never been cancelled but obv it's a proper plan to get there. Does anyone know if BP tablets and ones for high cholesterol affect donating?

I've never been asked about my BMI but have been asked if I'm heavy enough to donate (7 stone 12). I am 5'8" and pretty slim so if I was shorter I'd probably be too light.

The queuing system is rubbish. It was 35 minutes and now it has gone back to to 40. It's not a queue if the time goes up, people are being allowed to push in! What it should do is register where you are then send you a text when the site is ready.

I’m b+ so fairly rare. I used to donate but it completely wipes me out

My last apt was cancelled by them, and nothing local available til what would be the normal next one

The wait time is a guess.
Say there's 100 people and they think it takes 10 minutes to get through those 100 people. But 50 of them don't know the site well, keep chopping and changing their mind and take twice as long. It will take 15 minutes to get them all through. No one is jumping ahead of you, they're just slow.

Imagine the person in the queue at the supermarket counting pennies or who can't find their bank card.

Bugger! I used to donate regularly until the heart to-do and now have discovered I'm too old.
I'm sure it used to be up to 70, but it seems it's now 65. I'm O Neg, too.

I literally gave yesterday. A+ and in Scotland tho.
You can book an appointment online here.

They are not used to the site being accessed by so many people at one time (in response to the news). I don't think you can expect them to update their website in the space of hours.
They haven't got the staff to take blood, never mind maintain or update the website.

I’m O- and can no longer donate after having a blood transfusion. Please people donate if you can

Oh I’m constantly told I’m low iron so guess I’m no help anyway. I will see if I can find out my group anyway they have taken enough of my blood though pregnancies and testing so should have the answer.

I'm not allowed to donate anymore. But they really didn't make it easy when I could. Could be up to jan hour wait even with a planned appointment.

I was booked in to donate a few months ago and cancelled the day off my booking system as I knew I’d want to rest afterwards, and I didn’t have time before. I’m self employed. The session was cancelled on the morning itself, so too late to get any bookings in - I lost a whole potential day of work for no reason. I can’t afford to keep doing that, so I haven’t booked again since. 🤷‍♀️

I've twice had appointments to donate cancelled on the day due to staff shortages. Next available apt is after Xmas.

Does anyone know if BP tablets and ones for high cholesterol affect donating?

Mine don't (over 50 donations,) but it might depend on the particular medication, and you fo have to tell thrm what you're on. I'm on meds for BP, cholesterol and type 2 diabetes, and to date (rules change every now and then,) they're only interested in changes since I last donated, or changes in dose. They will be interested in knowing about any medication you haven't told them about before.

If you can get on the site, you can check for common medications. If something isn't listed, you can phone them, which I have done in the past, and they were able to look it up and makes notes on my record.

They also have senior nurses at sessions who can sign off on any health queries (often the nurse doing your initial check can't do this) - it's happened with me a few times over the years, including my last session, as I'd had a minor gynae procedure a few weeks earlier.

I think having local blood drives would really help. Having them miles away, isn't helpful for those who can't drive, or economise with fuel.

Please do not contact your GP surgery to ask what your blood type as suggested by PP. Your blood type is NOT kept on your GP record.

Unless having a baby or in need of a transfusion your blood type is irrelevant and you would have blood drawn to do a new cross match on every occasion anyway as an old record would not be relied upon. In an emergency O neg is used.

It’s so much harder to get an appointment than it was before covid. I only donate about half as frequently as I used to because of this. I’m not remotely rural but where they used to set up in my work building or about 5 different church halls in my local area every couple of months, I can now only donate at the blood centre. Which isn’t far but is really awkward and the hours are inconvenient for people who work.

I usedto give blood regularly. No appointment needed..turn up...in and out quickly.

Then they introduced appointments only.
Due to shift work couldn't manage to book an appointment to suit me.

I can't be the only donor they lost.

I’ve tried to donate many times and had all my appointments cancelled by them so I just gave up (I don’t know my blood type)

That’s awful! I’m o- I’ve always wanted to donate but I’m not allowed to give blood :(

Just tried to register. The queue is unreal. It's a great sign that the public are responding.

I will try again later.

I can no longer give blood for medical reasons, but used to regularly, and quite often post on donation threads to encourage people and say thank you.

I've noticed that for some years now (re-covid, so not just pandemic issues) that people are finding it really, really hard to get appointments. And centres where you used to be able to just walk in (often pop ups) just don't seem to exist any more - you used to be able to call in, be fitted in more or less straight away, get a slot for later in the day, or book a future appointment. Moving it all to appointment only via the website doesn't seem to have improved matters at all

In Japan, they have blood donor vans which set up in parks and other areas. Is there nothing like this in the UK? It's a very efficient and streamlined way to get lots of donations quickly.

Sadly, I can't donate here as nobody wants my contaminated British blood....