blood stocks low - will anyone donate in my place?

[outforblood]

My time as a blood donor is over. I tried and failed to donate yesterday for the last time. Having donated regularly since I was a teenager, this was the second visit in a row where even the most experienced senior nurse was unable to access a vein.

Apparently my veins are very small, buried deep, and the one stretch where they come close to the surface is now unsuitable for further attempts due to being used so often. No need to try again: "Looks like we've got all we can out of you."

I always found giving blood very life-affirming. I've been very lucky to be in good health most of my life so I always felt fortunate just to be in a position to do it. I know many can't. So I felt very sad to be turned away, but even worse to then read that blood stocks are currently dangerously low, particularly of rarer types (like mine).

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cw4y2x2kn4ko

I thought I'd come on here in case I could spur someone on here who is eligible to donate but on the fence to take my place. Maybe you've been meaning to donate but haven't got round to it, or maybe you haven't done it for a long time, or maybe you're a first-timer and nervous. But it's such a positive thing to do, the staff I've encountered have always friendly and gentle and professional. And of course you get and afterwards!

If you have any questions or concerns let me know and I'll do my best to help. But it would make my day if even one person pledged to donate in my place. 🙂

I tried to donate today ( 20th donation) but my flow was too slow so they abandoned my donation. So disappointed. Please give if you can, it means so much to so many.

just back from donating 20th pint, lovely chat with the donor services lady, lots of tunnocks tea cakes, very efficient!

I'm in Scotland too and there were packets of cheesey crackers last time I went! Never seen those before. I had my traditional caramel wafer though. Love anything by Tunnocks.

Wow your Dad is a legend!!

You don't need to know to donate. It'll be in your paperwork after you've donated and blood been typed.

That is great.

I can’t, as I’ve had a transfusion before.

Thank you to those who donated so I didn’t die.

I got up to 46 donations then due to a cancer diagnosis can never donate again. I'd always hoped to get to 50 donations before my 50th birthday.
I always liked the texts about where your donation had gone.

Very impressed. The senior blood donor nurse has just rung me. She is going to email ds2 and arrange for him to visit a donor session and look around before his donation day. She's going to make it a day when she's there and has asked about his communication needs. I have asked for one of his support workers to go with him on donation day.. What a lovely lady she is.

@Elderflower14 How wonderful. I hope it all goes well for your son. You must be very proud of him.

He's not keen on blood so I'm going to suggest he takes his Percy Pig face mask to cover his eyes with.

Im just curious. I have a needle phobia so can't donate (I wanted to try but they said no) but just wondered how I'd find out as I've obviously had blood tests over the years.

Just having my snack after my first donation. Bit of a wait to be seen but that can only be a good thing that it's so busy!

I would love to, but had a blood transfusion a few years ago.

Thanks to the Donors. I received 2 pouches of Rotherham's finest O negative yesterday and feeling so much better for it!

Thank you to anyone who has donated blood. I'm now coming to end end of regular donations (max age 6) and would love to encourage others to donate regularly.

We used to have a truck come to work which was brilliant. No idea why they stopped doing that. I'm sure they would gets lots of donors if that could be started again.

Max age 65.

I think it's older if you're a regular donor.

Well, I finally went today! And it was awful. Really unpleasant, unsupportive staff. I almost had a panic attack twice. I won’t be doing it again. Sorry.

Please give them that feedback.

They've always been great when I've been, but it may depend on the area.

I'm going tomorrow. 15th time I think.
Never given after a day at work so I'm going to eat and drink loads all day and finish early so I can have a decent tea first.

Do they send you an email asking for feedback? Nobody really explained anything to me. Otherwise how is best to do this please?

The staff are mostly always miserable when I go, but I don’t let it put me off. I once had a chance to have a chat with one and she was almost crying about the job. I got the impression they’re over-worked and underpaid.

Just to update. Wilf went to the monthly donor session near where he lives with his support worker.. The nurse in charge showed him round and answered his questions.
He is all ready to donate next month. I have suggested he takes and puts on his Percy Pig eye mask so he doesnt have to look at the blood. ♥️ ♥️

Thought I’d come back to update - I signed up to donate because of this thread, and donated for the first time this week. It was nowhere near as bad as I expected, and I’ll definitely be going again.