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

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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.

The thing about donating after transfusions is that it doubles your risk of unknown unknowns. If there's an unknown prion disease or a new HIV or whatever bubbling under, unknown to medical science, then each pint you've received doubles your risks, and by definition fancy technology can't test for it if they don't know it's there.

It's like all the restrictions: they are as cautious as possible while maintaining supply. There are plenty of willing blood donation volunteers in the population so they can easily maintain supply while excluding people who've received a donation so they do that just to be on the safe side. Likewise the Japanese can happily exclude the British as donors to minimise the (probably tiny) risk of CJD, but the NHS can't, they have to accept the risk because they couldn't maintain supply if they only took lifelong vegetarians.

If you were stuck in a rural hospital cut off from the outside world by a snowdrift, and you were the only possible donor for a patient who needed an urgent transfusion then the fact that you'd had a previous donation yourself would suddenly not be a dealbreaker. But if, as is normally the case, they access to donor blood without that additional risk, then they'll take that instead.

I've been trying to get onto the website all day and the first available appointment within 50 miles of me (only one location offered, rural west Mids) is the end of February 2023. I'm A+, so the next critical group up. So... they're fully booked up with blood donors for the next four months where I am? Or they aren't running any sessions between now and then?

I stopped donating years ago after they made it so difficult to get an appointment.

I am O neg I tried to donate in sep 21 but was too anemic ...is it worth retrying ? Been on iron tablets on and off since then

I’m not surprised they don’t have the staff, DH is a nurse. I cannot describe how much the pressures of the NHS has changed him. People are leaving in droves because they have had enough of the pressure. If people are treated badly why would they stay!

Seem to be a lot of people saying they have been trying for months

Absolutely!

Last two times I've been sent away so I'm giving up. Once because I hadn't been formally discharged from investigations into UTIs even though I said they weren't doing anything further.
Last time because while they were aggressively wiggling the cannula to improve the blood flow I gave a small 'ouch' and they said they weren't allowed to carry on if someone said it hurt.
Two occasions of taking time out of work wasted.

I pass out having blood tests so sadly I don’t think I’d be able to!

I’ve got over my annoyance and booked a very inconvenient time at a centre which is nearby.

No tea and biscuits though due to venue used.

I've always felt that they were lecturing me.
I've never felt encouraged, more told off.
Perhaps I've been unlucky with the staff.

Tried to donate in March after a 10 Yr gap.
Had to declare loads on the health form.
B12 wasn't a problem as it's treated but I take a daily immodium as I have ibs/ dairy intolerance.
Nurse told me to go to docs and get sorted out before I come back. She said the immodium wasn't an issue but she wanted to feel well in myself( which I do)
Doc also said immodium wasn't a problem.
They didn't contact me after 4 months as she said they would. I never contacted them as I felt stupid walking out without donating.
Not a first time Donor either- it would be number 27.

I was booked in to donate a couple of weeks ago, and it got cancelled on the day due to staffing issues.

I rebooked for January but will see if I can get in any sooner.

Friend has just left her job at blood service she’d had enough
complete organised chaos they’ve changed popular clinics to impractical local people who have come for years no longer bother

appointment system doesn’t work

Agree

I used to give blood when they had a regular pop up near work (busy area, many office buildings told when they were coming, turn out apparently good - came round about every 6 months) then that stopped and I used to go to one not too far away in central London. Which is the one most convenient for me as it matches my availability and commute.

So my record show that after I moved to London, I have used only two places to give blood. One no longer exists. The other does

I assume it was when they changed to booking system to online only that they started bombarding me with 'give blood at Tooting' messages. Now I'm sure that's a lovely centre, but it just doesn't work for me. It's become difficult to impossible to book for the centre I want to use.

I'll probably join battle and try to book a session that's convenient to me, as I'm overdue one. But I have become less frequent, as it seems they're hell bent on putting obstacles in the way of people donating. No I'm not interested in making a special trip in a direction I don't normally go in (even if it is "only" across London)

But if stocks are usually OK, then the new model must work for them.

Though the post I've quoted suggests otherwise, and as no-one seems to have a good word for the booking system, it's all too believable

Donated #66 last night. Surprised & disappointed at the difficulties so many are faced trying to donate. I always feel most welcomed and thanked perfusely for going to clinics, and find the appointment system introduced during covid makes everything much faster. It was only 60 minutes from registration to having a cuppa last night. I've got something valuable to newborns in my blood & it's often on a shortage list.

Blood is going to people very sick already so any chance of donated blood having traces of infection, antibiotics, etc could be lessening the chances of patients getting better. The blood bank isn't being fussy just for the sake of it.

@EerilyDevilled the reason they don't like children at the clinics is if something were to happen to you or another doner it can be very upsetting to the child. Over the years I've seen many people feint or have a bleed, one person had to go to ER by ambulance, and tbh the staff have enough to be doing at that point than trying to mind a child

It does seem to be pot luck with getting appointments. I’m a new donor (very ashamed that it’s taken me until 53 to do it) and both times have been made to feel welcome and with profuse thanks for donating! Like a PP it was an hour from arriving to sitting down for juice and a biscuit- lots of waiting and prep for 7.5 minutes of actual blood giving but the staff never stopped on all that time .

I know, although in all my time as a donor (35 years) I've never witnessed anything like that. DH had been meant to have DS that afternoon but something came up that meant he couldn't so it was take him or cancel. He just sat in the waiting area.

It has changed so much over the years. When I first started donating a staff member sat with you for the entire donation, then you moved to a separate lying down area for enforced rest of 10 mins with another staff member timing you before you had your cuppa and biscuit. Bow they are rushed off their feet, I have huge admiration for them, they still manage time for a friendly word with everyone and the whole process is so much quicker now, routinely in and out in an hour.

I have been a regular donor for 15 years. My dh started donating this year after overcoming a fear of needles. I've been telling him for years it is a waste of his big strapping body to keep all his blood for himself. He is exceptionally pleased that he has the kind of blood that can be donated to neonates, so likes to come home and tell me about the babies he has saved.

I have to say, I've not experienced any issues with booking my donation or at the donation centres. I tend to book early following the email reminder and there are several locations in my town, including one ten minutes walk from my house in a local community centre that runs weekday slots.

My last donation was planned for beginning of September. Dh and I were booked into the same session. His appointment went ahead as normal but mine was cancelled by text 2 days before. I think they had reduced staffing so had cancelled the 'less important' blood groups (I'm A-). This was the first time this had happened to me. I'm not surprised to see that NHSBT has experienced the same staffing pressures as other parts of the NHS.

Part of my job is managing surgical services at a hospital and we are working really hard to get through the backlog of elective patients after covid. There will be an unfortunate knock on for patients waiting for hip and knee replacements (already the longest waiters) as we have been asked to limit the use of blood products to emergencies only.

They never ask any more, do they? I used to give blood, years ago, but stopped getting letters. There used to be adverts on telly.

I went into the website yesterday after seeing news of the

Sorry, news of the shortage but huge wait. They also said they were interested in O type blood mainly and come back later if you're something else.
I doubt most people know their blood type!

I managed to get on the website this morning. The nearest centre is a 30 mile round trip and there are no appointments till Feb. So it’s not surprising they’re short of donors. I don’t find it reasonable to say they’re desperate for donors then have no appointments for four months!

In fainted a couple of times when giving blood in England.

moved back to my home country where they encourage you to sip juice or a sugary soft drink while donating. That really helps me. Is that allowed in England now?

also, they give you a course of iron tablets to take after each donation.