Just found out where my most recent blood donation went

[Gasp0deTheW0nderD0g]

I love getting that text. This time I also got an email with a link to Google maps so I could see the journey my blood went on. It went to Broomfield Hospital in Chelmsford, via the processing plant in Colindale. If I hadn't already booked my next appointment this would have spurred me on to do it, so (for me, anyway) this is a really effective bit of marketing. Anyone else, or am I just a weirdo?

Just checked and my last 3 donations went to:

Stevenage
Hastings
Chelsea & Westminster

If ever I can't donate because I fail the drop test I feel really bad!

My next donation is booked for January.

I hadn’t realised this was a thing - it’s been a long time since I was allowed to donate.

Thank you all for all that you do.

My most recent donation was issued to Newham last week

Blood donors are the reason why I sat down to tea tonight with my family, nagged the kids tonight about homework/school stuff ready and have just told the youngest to go to bed and stay in bed. I was in an accident a few years ago and needed a lot of blood.

So for everyone on this thread that's donated blood, have a biscuit from me!

Love the messages, too, but I've not donated this year. They've cancelled 2 appointments but keep messaging me that they need my type. And the last one, the lady went straight through my vein. Im booked in on Wednesday evening so hopefully I will donate this time.

Another O- here and suitable for neo natal units. On 67 donations and last one to Leeds General. Love the texts and looking forward to the map after next month's donation

My last donation went to my local hospital.

I'm giving blood again tomorrow, and I'm delighted to be able to do it.

As someone who has received transfusions of donated blood I have found I have to ask the people doing the transfusion. The origin is normally written on the blood bag label if any transfusees are curious (as I was!)

Another thing that has come up from having a conversation with other people having transfusions in the clinic was the reluctance of people to consider donating blood (is it fear of needles, seeing blood?). Have had many people ask me what they can do for me as they know I have cancer and I always say, join the Stem Cell register (you have to be below a certain age which is not obvious or well known). If you cannot join the Stem Cell register (a bit like giving blood) then consider donating Blood if you can.

I put reminders about donating blood on my SM so people might be prompted.
I've had an offer from my nephew to do a Video about giving blood via NHS Donation and why it is life-saving important etc but he won't go and donate himself. Is it a generational thing?

Fortunately some of my more unlikely 5 friends have decided to go together we have a massive blood centre in our town and give blood but I have bribed them all with a "pint" of beer as an incentive! They have also agreed to put something about doing this on their SM (they are in a band so hopefully it might get some fans to donate too!)

DD's can also be used for this . Last time she was called in same day as stocks were low

I didn’t know that they told you where your blood went! What a great idea to keep up people’s motivation.

i’ve been banned for a few years now, it must have started after they very politely asked me to stop going as the additional blood tests were costing them a lot of money!

Aw, this is inspiring me to try again. Long history but I haven't donated since my early 20s, tried again last month and was turned away for a reason I wasn't expecting (only a temporary reason), but the whole thing took over an hour so was quite frustrating. I'll try again now! Thanks OP

I donated 78 times over nearly 50 years (started when you had to be 18 and could only donate twice a year, plus missed some years due to pregnancies and illness - sadly had to stop donating my O neg when they found antibodies which could be detrimental to an ill recipient), and in all those years I never successfully persuaded anyone to give blood, I even offered to attend with several of them. So disappointing.

Thanks for your donation! I live near there and am thrilled to hear that is where it ended up. What a great idea!

I donated In Dorset and mine went to Birmingham!

How do you know? I’ve donated bloody twice and both times they couldn’t get the full bag out of me (I have skinny veins) so I’m unsure if it can even be used. It was a couple of years ago now.

Thank you all, six units of donated blood saved my life after I had a post partum haemmorraghe. As a Nurse many years ago I was in theatre when a lady was brought in for removal.of appendix, when surgeon opened up she was actually suffering a ruptured ectopic pregnancy, again donated blood saved her life. You are lifesavers.

I wouod donate but they dont seem to want my A neg

I wish they would do it in Scotland.

I've got the neonate blood too, but mine hasn't gone to a children's hospital for a couple of years (I even enquired whether I still had the neonatal-safe blood, because I'd noticed). I'm still waiting to hear where my last donation went. It's been the Royal Marsden (cancer hospital) the past couple of times. I do like finding out!

It can take up to a couple of weeks to get the text, I wouldn't worry.

And yes, they would contact you privately if there were any infections or similar found.

My DD had plenty of blood and platelet transfusions when she had leukaemia so thanks to all who donate on here. I also donate but not as often as I'd like, due to low iron or not finding a vein. Last time, it made my arm go numb, which freaked me out a bit. I am also O neg so constantly hounded!

I'm another who has received a transfusion so can't donate. I was feeling so poorly, no energy, really low iron, white as a sheet, fainted at work and was taken to hospital. The blood made it possible for me to return to work. I felt so much better when I'd received it. I am so grateful to you all

Donors
Donors who have had to stop
Bikers who get it there!

You are all heroes. Some of you are lifesavers, all of you have made someone's life better.

That’s really interesting that you get told where your donation goes. I now donate Plasma instead of blood, as I live near one of the three national plasma centres and I was asked to switch, but they don’t tell you specifically what happens to your donation (it’s used to create medicines etc).

Thank you for posting this. I've been meaning to for ages but this has given me the push to actually sign up and make an appointment to donate!

I love the text, mine has gone to West Suffolk, Kingston, central Middlesex and other hospitals, I have my 7th appointment this Saturday. I’m O+