Giving Blood - next available apt 84 days....

[SussexBonfireViking]

If we are so short on supplies of blood, then why are there no appoints before 84 days? I had to miss my last appointment as they changed the requirements on where i had been overseas, (told me at my appointment, but not a problem) so i could rebook from the next week - but i tried to rebook and the next appointment near where i live (or work) is not til october (my cancelled one was in July)

i know nhs funds are tight, but i dont like being made to feel guilty for not giving blood, when its not actually possible

I give blood too. Appointments seem to be fewer and harder to obtain. What's the point of them encouraging more people to give blood if you can't actually make an appointment?

Quite often they cancel my appt at short notice via text, can only assume they are short staffed

What’s your blood type? I don’t think supplies are currently THAT short for the moment, aside for the universal or rarer blood types so this may be a factor. I’m AB+ so I know my blood isn’t in much demand for example

Have you tried different donation centres? I can book my next appointment (for September) now if I wanted to at a range of centres. Or i could you walk in. Might just be your local area

Quite often there are other locations or sessions in the same area that are not filled so they won't put on extra sessions in the popular location. Search the area more widely and I expect you'll find some free ones. It's impossible to get a slot in our village but the nearby town usually has some free. And if they don't make sure you book in at your preferred location, the time will pass faster than you think.

I can't believe you need an appointment to give blood at all, here (Ireland), you just just go to your local mobile blood clinic and queue, rarely queue for long and it goes to each area once a month but for example I live 10-15 minutes from about 5 different areas so there's a clinic open near me at least once a week. Waiting that long seems crazy!

Yup, I live on an island and there are now available slots all year.

The government has cut the Blood service to the absolute bone. That's why there are so few appointments. Write to your MP

According to a nurse when I gave blood last week they want to start calling people by blood group - which will Make it even harder for alot of people

i tried where i live, and where i work (18 miles apart)

this is the link i saw
www.facebook.com/yorkshireambulanceservice/
(i'm not in Yorkshire)

Sorry I meant that as I am AB+, I know my blood isn’t in demand as my blood type is a universal recipient and no other blood types can have AB+ blood - therefore I know that isn’t necessary for my donations to be frequent. I wouldn’t mind at all if an appointment I wanted went to an O+ donor

I make my next appointment while I'm at the venue after donating. Even if you couldn't donate, could you not have made your appointment then?

I am forever getting calls to say my blood group is low stock but the weekly stock level messages put out always say it's the highest level is stock so who knows? I still always go when I'm eligible and so my part. I think everyone who can should donate blood/plasma/bone marrow and sign the organ donation register. It's just the right thing to do imo.

I had an appointment, I had to wait a month only because it was the best convenient time for me. When I got there and they examined me I couldn't donate because my veins weren't right.

The statistics are apparently something like only 38% of people are able to donate blood, and of those 38%, only something like 5% do donate.
So maybe that's why the appointments are so full yet the stocks are so low.

It’s not true that we’re short of blood. I think this has just become an over arching narrative of any conversation about donations.

I can’t donate because my iron levels are low and I have a letter from them stating they don’t need blood like this whilst stocks are abundant- basically saying they can afford to be fussy but if things change they’ll think about accepting my blood again. I have been sent this letter about 4 times (it’s obv standard)

I've had success just walking in and asking if they can take blood the same day. Usually been seen within 15 mins. It is a large hospital though, and I go when they first open in the morning.

When I got there and they examined me I couldn't donate because my veins weren't right.

This happened to me. Two nurses examined me and refused to put the needle in, then a manager came over and it was all fine in the end. I did have to keep closing and opening a fist to help pump the blood out though.

I’m O- and tried to book an appointment last week having seen advertisements for urgent donations of my blood type. Next available appointment is November.

Rang the number listed online for cancellation appointments and was told they don’t hold a cancellation list of willing donors, they expect you to ring/search online every day instead.

So I gave up.

Even if you couldn't donate, could you not have made your appointment then?

yes i did, but they were only taking bookings for the next 3 month session - i'm trying to donate earlier, but thanks

I thought this too when I booked yesterday. I am always getting emails and text messages saying they need blood and urging me to book an appointment. Next local one was October 30th so I have booked one at a venue about 30 miles away so I can get in sooner.

I've not been able to make an appointment at the session for next time at 2 out of the last 5 times I've been.

I phone the number and asked for a priority booking as I'm O- at a centre near me. They sorted me one out for 2 weeks later as the first appointment available i couldn't make. The priority service is only available it O- and B- donors though.

I've had success just walking in and asking if they can take blood the same day. Usually been seen within 15 mins. It is a large hospital though, and I go when they first open in the morning

this would be good and i would be happy to do this, but the nearest big hospital is either half an hour by car (in the op direction to work) or half an hour + with no parking.. i cant really take that risk on the off chance they might be able to do it

Oh God, YANBU. I've donated for years and years and it's getting harder and harder to get an appointment. I'm going this afternoon (taking advantage of August being quiet to leave work a bit early). I'm B+ and I don't think they really want my blood- at any rate they can't be bothered to be pleasant to me. I'm on the point of giving up: I've only gone on as long as I have because I'm stubborn.

I used to give blood regularly. But it was always hard to get an appointment when I moved to London. Then I just sort of forgot about it.

I should do it again. But I do get what you're saying. That's a long wait!

I’ve turned up to 2 appointments and was turned away both times. Can’t remember the reason for the first , but the second they had been running late and needed a break. Could I wait an hour? Ehhh no, I don’t think so. I’d left work early to go as well.
Tbh, I think stuff it, I haven’t got time to be messed about. They’ll have to do without my blood !