Blood donation - why is it used so far away!

[SillySausageSandwich]

Hi all,

Last week I donated blood. I’m a regular donor, have O+ blood (so fairly common)

Whenever I give blood my blood ends up getting used quite a long way away from me…. cities which are hours and hours away.

Does anyone know why it’s used so far away??

Logically it makes no sense to me.. why ship my blood all over the country! I’ve googled and it’s now answered my question so thought I’d ask on mumsnet!!

I guess they will be topping up blood banks that are low on supply? They always try to have a certain number of days/ weeks available and if they have too much of a common blood type rather than dispose of it if it won't be used, it makes sense to send it where it will

I think it is all about the demand. We are in SE London, have several large hospitals near us but DH's last blood ended up in Milton Keynes.

I'm bumping in the hope that someone who knows for sure might come along, but I'll have a guess in the meantime 😀

I think that donated blood goes to one of a number of NHS Blood and Transplant centres for testing and storage until a hospital orders a certain type of blood. So I imagine that's why your blood doesn't stay local.

I'm in the South East. I was told it was processed in Cambridge then moved out. Not sure if this is still the case. My blood went to Peterborough this week.

It's sometimes processed at regional processing centres and then could end up anywhere that centre serves.

Also it depends on demand. For example the horrific events in Southport earlier this week probably required a lot of blood so will have increased demand in the North West which would have a wider knock on effect.

Sounds like everyone’s blood goes on a road trip! It makes sense to go where demand is but I'm Manchester based and it’s ended up in Newcastle… just seemed odd as O blood is in demand according to the news (and the ‘nagging’ email I got after donating) and I’m in a big city with people around needing blood etc!

I'm in Oxfordshire, so far I've had a few in London, Milton Keynes, Bristol, Plymouth, Kettering, Hereford and a few more

Taunton I think is my furthest. Also Northampton

But don't you see as 0+ that of course they are going to send your blood further away and it can answer demand in more cities?
What is your actual concern do you want your blood only used locally, are you worried that your blood might go stale on the journey, what mile radius from you would be not notable to you. Do you think when the blood donor sends messages put they are low on 0+ they mean just in your particular town and not nationally?

It's a mix of all the previous answers, some goes to trauma centres. Then where the demand is highest.

It's great to see people giving blood, in the south east at the moment we are on amber alert as we are very low on all O blood.

I've needed blood transfusions many times however I have rare antibodies (ironically due to a blood transfusion) which means I need very specific blood that they then modify. One time I had surgery delayed while they flew in some bood from opposite end of the country.

Just wanted to say thank you to you all. My husband has had acute myeloid leukaemia , diagnosed in Oct 2023 followed by a transplant. He has had so many bags of blood and platelets. It has saved his life quite literally on countless occasions.

I used to give blood but for health reasons I can't any more, unfortunately. They won't let me.

What surprised me this week was I had an email telling me they are desperate for donations so I booked on but the next available appointment at a donation centre anywhere even close to me is October.

Is that based on blood type? I'm B so I wonder if they prioritise O first?

It's about demand. My blood goes all over Wales and I'm glad that it's not sat on a shelf rapidly losing its value. My uncle was the rarest type and rather than donate on a schedule the local hospital had his phone number and would just get him to come in and donate when it was needed - even if he was at the rugby club after a couple of jars! Probably doesn't happen like that now, but the point is the same, all about demand. Well done for donating, I really wish more people did it, it's such a small gesture for us to do but it means so much to recipients.

I gave blood on Monday in Scotland and was chatting to the nurse about this, we are not told where our blood is used. The nurse said it's because there are so few major treatment centres in Scotland that blood donated in Glasgow stays in Glasgow 99% of the time.

I would imagine some areas are better at recruiting donors or have differing demands.

@CoatesCat Nope, I’m not worried or anything like that. I’m just really curious! And considering I’ve donated a lot (39 now, started at 17), yet it’s never been used where I am! To my knowledge anyway, I started donating in the days before text alerts.

My last donation went on a roadtrip to Dudley! Can’t donate at the moment as I’m pregnant, will be back to donating when baby is six months old, all being well. Have nudged DP to get back into donating as he hasn’t for a few years.

Newcastle on Tyne or under Lyme? One is considerably closer than the other. If you're Type O, there's a shortage which could explain the distance.

I donated blood for years (O neg) before I got diagnosed with breast cancer last year.
I used to love the text alerts and emails showing where my blood had gone off to.
I find the whole business fascinating. It went all over the place!
A friend of mine received about 30 units when he had an accident overseas years ago - I more than paid everyone back for that.
I'm so sad I can no longer donate. Back when I was much younger and fitter some of my blood went off to be used for babies - that was particularly memorable.

This thread is essentially a repeat of the thread this afternoon where the OP was saying she had such a long wait for an appointment to donate.

@Arlanymor My mums O- so fairly rare. Part of why I’m a devoted donor is because she said how valuable it is, and she was often called to go donate… I’d go along, get a biscuits, enjoyed myself etc (fickle child!!)

As an adult… my sister had a bad accident…ambulance, rushed in to hospital, 7 hour op to reconstruct her leg etc. needed blood…. I can see the real value (past the biscuits and the fact I really like chatting to people who donate! Everyone is so lovely and has a story!!)

That's fantastic, it really is, good for you, you're doing a great thing. My uncle was AB neg.

Ha ha - we do it at least 5% for the Penguin/Club biscuit and weak squash right?!

Everyone definitely does has a story, you are absolutely right. It's one of my favourite things about donating, you get to have a nice old chinwag with people you probably wouldn't meet otherwise.

@Arlanymor Absolutely!! Love the people!!!! And there is something extra special about the little snack… and I keep telling myself that the chatting is helpful! This time round there was a younger man, looked really washed out…. I was a bit worried about him! Anyway I said ‘how are you?’ And that’s exactly what he needed to say ‘actually I’m not feeling well at all’… then whoosh all the professionals heard, pulled a big donation chair over, flipped him on his back and forced crisps down him…. Another life saved by me being a slightly annoying chatter box (joking! Partly.. the annoying bit is probably true!!)

I love this!!! It's that nice little bit at the end when you all have something in common right? And it fosters a bit of conversation.

I had a similar thing with a young girl who was on the verge of fainting and they did the same, piled on the salt and sugar! It's much easier for use as fellow donors to ask that question, although I find the staff unfailingly lovely too.