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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To give blood

55 replies

Bobbiepin · 11/04/2020 09:26

I am a regular donor and I'm asthmatic. I'm not going out for daily exercise as I don't trust other people to maintain social distancing etc and I'm fine being outside in our garden. I'm booked in to give blood on Monday and I trust the professionals to maintain safe distances and keep people separate as much as possible. I realise there will be people there but I think donating is important.

DH doesn't agree with me donating when I won't go out anywhere else to avoid getting ill. Although CV doesn't leave sufferers in need of blood, there are fewer donors right now and I think it is important to keep my appointment. AIBU to donate?

OP posts:
Chesterfuckingdrorrs · 11/04/2020 11:22

Can you check the local bloodstock. The Scottish blood donor service has a page on the website where they update the blood stocks daily and you can see if yours is needed.

Since a lot of routine surgeries have been cancelled the blood stock here has been remaining healthy for a good few weeks.

I phoned to make an appointment and was told stocks for all blood groups were at a good level. I check every few days and will go in if my blood type starts to drop. I was advised they like to have 6days worth of stock and from checking this morning all blood types have over 9days.

RedRed9 · 11/04/2020 11:28

there are fewer donors right now and I think it is important to keep my appointment.

I forgot my password so had to request in via the website and got a ‘there are an unprecedented number of people wanting to give blood right now’ message. I’ve attached a screenshot of it.

To give blood
Ohhgreat · 11/04/2020 11:30

You've just reminded myle to book in to donate - looks like lots of people are registering now but the next time I could book was 4 weeks time, so not translating into long waits round here yet (berkshire)

NannyR · 11/04/2020 11:41

This thread reminded me that I'm due to donate. I've just made an appointment and the centre I usually go to is fully booked for three weeks, whereas normally I can get an appointment within a day or two. It could be more people donating or maybe staffing issues and safe distancing means they have to limit the number of donations per session.

I0NA · 11/04/2020 11:45

I did it the other week and they took steps to ensure everyone stayed well apart, everything was being disinfected constantly and they ensured only the bare minimum of contact just when the needle was inserted and removed

I gave last week and it was exactly the same. There was a manager standing at the door of the building asking screening type questions.

And there were no hot drinks afterwards and no social area of course. But still that feel-good factor 😇

mencken · 11/04/2020 11:55

I'm a regular but cancelled my end of March Welsh appointment. Why? Because at the time it was all 'wiping down the ipads' but no social distancing or PPE for staff. This has apparently now changed, at least I hope so.

I'll go back when there is a session sufficiently close - public transport is a non-starter round here in normal times so I always drive, but I'm not prepared to drive too far after donation.

thank you to all who do it.

Vinorosso74 · 11/04/2020 12:13

I follow NHS Blood on Facebook and the stocks have been very good this last week. I just hope they keep a lot of the new donors after this is over.

Bluffinwithmymuffin · 11/04/2020 12:59

Vinorosso74

I follow NHS Blood on Facebook and the stocks have been very good this last week. I just hope they keep a lot of the new donors after this is over.

Hopefully they will then that’ll be one of the few good things to come out of this situation

Original poster
Bobbiepin · 11/04/2020 13:18

Funnily enough I found an appointment really easily which makes me think there aren't many donors going. I had to cancel an appointment about a month ago because of a cold but I'm healthy now and got rebooked very easily.

OP posts:
TorysSuckRevokeArticle50 · 11/04/2020 13:30

I feel slightly ashamed that my visit to give blood at the end of March was my first donation, should have done it years ago but I was convinced it would be a waste of time as they can only try for a vein once and so far in my life it's always taken at least 6 attempts, max 11 for any other medical personnel to find a vein.

They managed it first time so I'm now booked in at the beginning of August and will go every 16 weeks from here on out.

I also learned I am B+ which apparently makes up about 9% of the population.

cologne4711 · 11/04/2020 14:19

Just saw this on Twitter so they are still encouraging donations

twitter.com/ImperialNHS/status/1248960280786337793

Original poster
Bobbiepin · 13/04/2020 15:59

After all that I couldn't donate!

OP posts:
I0NA · 13/04/2020 16:10

Are you under 8st @Bobbiepin?

Wish I was ......

Candyflosscookie · 13/04/2020 16:34

I donated on Friday 20th, just before lockdown, in a community location. They did a lot right - person at door asking basic health questions, spacing to the registration table, waiting chairs spaced out, plenty hand gel.
However the thing that made me Confused was that the donation couches were laid out in their usual L shape with both head ends next to each other so I was literally less than 2 feet from the next donor's head. When I politely pointed this out to the lady doing the insertion, she dismissed it and said everyone giving blood should be healthy anyway. I was going to query asymptomatic spread but as she was about to dig into my vein I decided not to.
I'm a very regular and loyal donor but did find this extremely odd when they were being so careful before you got to the couch! This would be a question I would ask before you go OP, about layout and safety.

Candyflosscookie · 13/04/2020 16:35

Oh sorry just seen your update!

MulticolourMophead · 13/04/2020 16:51

Candyflosscookie I thought that style of bed layout had been phased out with the newer reclining chairs. They're all spaced apart now.

Meanwhile my next donation is booked for the end of June, and I always get reminders to go, as I'm O neg. Hope we have a better idea of the situation then.

Original poster
Bobbiepin · 13/04/2020 18:29

@I0NA I wish! (Although I am quite tall so probably would look emaciated at 8 stone)

Iron was too low.

OP posts:
Original poster
Bobbiepin · 13/04/2020 18:44

FWIW the layout was 2m apart in every direction.

OP posts:
Candyflosscookie · 13/04/2020 19:05

@multicolourmopbead I think the city hospital has those kinds of chairs but not in my donation location, it's a community one in a rural area in Scotland. They use either the school or the village hall depending on the date I think. Still using quite ancient couches.

lljkk · 13/04/2020 19:11

I can't find England figures for stocks right now, but Scottish stocks are very high, which makes me think England is fine, too.

ElloElloVera · 13/04/2020 19:37

If you follow NHS Blood Donation on social media, they are currently very happy to report high stock levels. This was Thursdays. Perhaps all the cancelled non urgent surgeries have added to this but either way it’s looking good.

I’m a regular donor but donating always wipes me out and because of this I’m not going to donate at the moment just to be safe. I’m happy that stock levels are high though.

To give blood
chockaholic72 · 13/04/2020 19:46

I went a couple of weeks ago and donations were about a third down on the board for that centre. I was told that it’s not just less people donating but less staff to do it due to illness and self-isolating. Hopefully they’ve turned a corner now.

couchlover · 13/04/2020 20:42

I did it at the start of this thing and it really was well controlled to keep the public a part. Just make sure you don't arrive early to save the hanging around.

lljkk · 13/04/2020 21:44

My blood is least urgent & useful, as usual!

ButterPie1 · 14/04/2020 00:07

I've had two appointments cancelled and was told they are not short of donors at the moment so may be worth checking before you travel xxx