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Original poster

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

102 replies

SussexBonfireViking · 03/08/2018 11:54

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

OP posts:
ladydickisathingapparently · 03/08/2018 19:23

I wanted to come onto this thread and say YABU but sadly my experience the last time I gave blood was not a pleasant one. I had pre-booked the appointment months and months before but still had to wait nearly two hours before being seen. The staff weren’t helpful or friendly at all. I hate saying this because I hate being so critical when they were clearly busy, but they came across as rude and frankly bored.

I’ve given blood for more than 30 years. Honestly wondering whether I should bother carrying on.

relaxingonthesofa · 03/08/2018 19:25

I received an email at work asking for urgent blood donations - I'm a universal donor so in high demand at the moment. Made some calls, I can't get an appointment until November!! They seemed quite embarrassed about it on the phone.

FuriousUndertheStars · 03/08/2018 19:35

YANBU. I've been trying to book in for ages but never find a date I can commit to. They call me regularly but I don't know whether I'm going to be available on a date two months away because my work isn't predictable.

ilovegin112 · 03/08/2018 19:41

I give blood 3 times a year quite happily, Nice staff and I always see the same faces giving blood

ilovegin112 · 03/08/2018 19:47

On my blood app, they show the next 3 available sessions for each location, all it takes is big accident (an explosion)to go through supplies,

PolkadotsAndMoonbeams · 03/08/2018 19:53

I wish they'd be a bit more helpful over the phone — I think a recent holiday might mean I have to wait longer than usual to donate, but they won't tell me over the phone. I have to book an appointment knowing that I might be turned away, which seems silly! I'd also get a piercing if done if I knew I had to wait for six months anyway

Oblomov18 · 03/08/2018 20:30

Disgrace. It was on the one show the other day saying how desperate they were for people to give blood!

HellenaHandbasket · 03/08/2018 21:27

I messaged the other day actually, they actually just replied saying due to a reduction in hospital demand they couldn't justify more dates, but if I gave them my details they'd help me book something suitable. Confused

SittHakim · 03/08/2018 21:55

Well, today's appointment was all right (and the woman who put the needle in was actually pleasant to me), so I'm hanging on as a donor for the time being. One more cock-up and I'm not wasting any more time on them, though: they've had about three times the volume of blood I actually possess off me over the years, so if I jack it in now I've done my bit. I won't support people who can't be bothered with basic politeness and think my time has no value.

Part of the trouble is the inconsistency, it seems to me: I saw someone upthread saying they couldn't get advice on the phone. When I was being tested for ovarian cancer the blood service were pretty helpful (and polite) over the phone, and I didn't have to waste time going in and being told I couldn't donate. But that was a while ago and no doubt the service has been cut since. And clearly one hand doesn't know what the other is doing: if they're begging for O- and B- donors but don't have any appointments for them, WTF is the point?

70isaLimitNotaTarget · 03/08/2018 22:09

My nearest availability that is after work is 23rd Oct and a 3.8mile drive .
I cannot take an afternoon off work to give blood and if there's a risk of it being cancelled , I wouldn't.

They do not accept walk ins so there's no point me going after work on the off chance .

I keep getting emails and phone calls but it isn't easy . Hmm

CluedoAddict · 03/08/2018 22:16

It must depend on how organised your area is. I cannot donate but my DH does. He always books his next appointment while he is there. Always home within an hour.

HolidayHelpPlease · 03/08/2018 22:16

I’m B- , and was squeezed into an appointment immediately after the snow days.
They wouldn’t take my blood because I’d taken an imodium (I have to take one everyday because of IBS, it’s on my Dr notes, used to be prescribed but now buy OTC because NHS is struggling).
When I took them on prescription, totally fine. OTC (it’s the same pill!!!) nope. Bizarre.
Next slot is 3 months away. They keep suggesting I go to a session that’s 23miles away. I think not.

megletthesecond · 03/08/2018 22:19

I made an appointment last month and the next available was October.
A decade ago it was quite easy to get an appointment.

SittHakim · 03/08/2018 22:23

A decade ago it was possible just to walk in, at least in some places. When I first started work (rather more than a decade ago) I could nip along to Bart's and donate when it was quiet in the office.

HolidayHelpPlease, that's completely bizarre!

namechangedtoday15 · 03/08/2018 22:31

I'm a regular donor (I think my last donation on Monday was my 49th) and yes, I did have to wait quite a while despite having a timed appointment and the staff weren't falling over themselves to be friendly.

But I had premature twins who needed blood within days of being born - and I'd have been devastated (they'd have died) if blood hadn't have been available. If I'm delayed by a couple of hours, or someone is a bit impolite, but I still get to indirectly save a life, I can live with that.

CesiraAndEnrico · 03/08/2018 22:33

errrrr

happypoobum · 03/08/2018 22:36

I have two friends who work in the blood donation service locally to me and they confirm what PP have said.

Tory Austerity measures have cut the service so badly that they just do not have the staff available.

Very sad for all concerned.

CesiraAndEnrico · 03/08/2018 22:38

oh crap, sorry, leaned on my ipad and it posted elbow speak.Blush

MrsDeanWinchester75 · 03/08/2018 22:39

This thread isn't giving me much confidence, I signed up for the first time a few days ago and have been given an appointment for November, it's at 2.35 and I thought I'd be in and out in 10 minutes. I need to be in the car on my way to school by 3 at the latest.

strawberrypenguin · 03/08/2018 22:39

Agree OP. I'd give blood fat more often if I could but as it is I barely manage once a year. The appointments are all weekday, during the day. I'm working then and I've got no spare leave to use giving blood.

70isaLimitNotaTarget · 03/08/2018 22:44

MrsDean its very unlikely that you'll be out in time- my DS did his first donation last year (I;m trying to find a date for us both but he'll be at Uni so not sure when he can go)

There's a lot of waiting , the fingerprick test, the donation then you need to drink, eat and rest 30 minutes or so.

strawberrypenguin · 03/08/2018 22:49

Can I also say a huge thank you to those of you who do find the time to donate. My DS1 has major surgery and needed a transfusion (the reason I started donating - to give some blood 'back') So thank you for helping people like my DS.

Oldraver · 03/08/2018 22:51

Have you checked the parameters on the online booking ?

Mine was saying I could give blood from 31st August but all appointments were from middle of October. I looked a few times and was a tad confused then looked at the dates and it for some reason was automatically going to those dates. Changed it back to September and new dates came up

bumpsadaisy11 · 03/08/2018 22:54

I recently joined the blood donor service online, but there are absolutely no slots available at all. I had a phone call from the blood donor service asking if I would like to book a slot to donate blood. I said yes, but he couldn't find any availability at all, the poor man was very embarrassed!
It was made even worse because I had talked my husband & children to join the blood donor service, but it all went to shit, after they had registered as we couldn't get in anywhere!!!

RhinestoneCowgirl · 03/08/2018 23:00

My local session is always super efficient when you're there, but it's a struggle getting an appointment.

They used to make appt for next session when you were having tea and biscuits. Good system I thought... But no longer. Now I have to remember to book online, and it's another password to remember and I just feel pissed off with the whole thing. Oh and when they phone asking your O neg blood is so important and can you make an appt but can you go to one half way across the city...

No.