To think the NHS could do better if they are so desperate for blood?

[chickpea1982]

Apparently the NHS are desperate for blood at the moment. I have O negative blood, which is in particularly high demand. I've just tried, and failed, to find an appointment - not for the first time either. There is nothing near me for the rest of the year (I live in Surrey, not the depths of beyond). I have 3 kids and a job, so my availability is pretty limited anyway, but still - nothing?!

I'm told that they would offer priority appointments once I've had my first appointment and they have confirmed my blood type, which is just ridiculous. The NHS has records of my blood type already. And I can't get a first appointment!!

Also, you can't bring kids with you, even babies. That further restricts when I could go and how far I could go as I'd have to get someone else to look after the kids.

It's like they are making it intentionally hard! Surely they could do better if they are so desperate?

As an NHS HCP I do agree, I've tried to book and there's nothing near me (not too far from Surrey actually) until mid November.

Yep. I haven't tried recently as got so fed up previously. But every time I've tried to give blood there have been no slots available to book or when I have booked, every time the appointment has been cancelled.

I'm not a particularly rare blood group, but would have liked to support, but it's not on my list of priorities now tbh

YANBU. I have a rare but on-demand blood type but haven't donated for years. I had a run of sessions where my iron levels were too low, then COVID hit, then they didn't like where I'd been on holiday, then I couldn't bring DD, then I couldn't find an appointment...

I know what you mean, I have o neg blood too and struggled to find an appointment. When I went they told me my veins weren't long enough to get the needle in as they come pre-attached to the bags. A real shame, my blood is good but they can't get it!

To be fair as O Neg (I am) you will get priority after the first appt, however the blood donation people do not have access to your health records and therefore won’t know what blood group you are.
It’s not kept in GP records either as no need for it to be.

I'm an O+ blood donor, but haven't donated for the past 12 months because of medical stuff. I'm eligible again, and tried to book an appointment but was taken to a queue of about 25 minutes, and then no appointments (also SE) till winter. It's ridiculous.

i have been trying to 'give blood' for years and i've given up! i make appointments and they cancel them!

they can't be that desperate if you have someone willing to donate blood and yet they cancel all the appointments..

Did they used to have blood vans which were in the local communities every few months or did I dream this? Then you could go after work, and I'm sure they used to set up in big offices too! I think it's just cuts but I cannot donate blood around here and it just seems a mess- with plenty of people willing to who just can't

I don’t understand why extra clinics haven’t been set up. Same nothing available when i looked.

That's hardly the fault of the NHS!

I’ve been trying to book for days and I can’t get onto the website, it just says I’m in a queue. 🤷‍♀️ not sure what more I can do really.

Agree, op- the appointment system is really poor. I keep trying and they either cancel the appointment or there’s nothing available- this is in central London.

I haven't donated for years and saw the advert - thinking I could book an appointment locally in the next couple of weeks. No- would have to drive a long way in November to donate.

They’ve made it too hard. I stopped as couldn’t get an appointment, when I did get one they cancelled it, the donor centre is now miles away with paid for parking (and you never know how long you’ll be either), they seem to sieze on any excuse to not bother, and that’s all on top of their discrimination against gay men in committed relationships.

If they want people to donate, they have to make it easier, like it used to be.

B+ here and used to donate but haven't been able to since a blood transfusion in 1994. The 4 units they gave me were apparently ok for me to have, but not for them to take back. Even after 30 years 🤷‍♀️

This is the thing that drives me most crazy - the NHS definitely does know my blood type, as I recently had a baby and so had to have my blood tested. Surely it is not beyond the wit of man to cross-reference against records they already have?

The lack of appointments is ridiculous but the “NHS” doesn’t know your blood type - the hospital where you’ve been treated and your GP records will know but the blood transfusion service won’t as it’s a separate organisation. (Don’t get me started on this because it’s ridiculous in this day and age but there you go)

you used to be able to just turn up... give blood and leave!

Maybe the shortage is because of this, vs the other way around.

Same , half an hour queue on the website then no appointments til November.

I had my appointment to donate cancelled on the day. I now can't rebook until November. It's a total joke!

I donated once when they had an awareness day in my office, I was able to book an appointment at the city centre clinic reasonably smoothly. I hated it though I'm normally OK with needles not sure if it was how long I had to sit there. This was around 2018 though.
Anyway I contacted them when I got pregnant and told them I wouldn't be able to any more due to pregnancy and breastfeeding and they continued to write to me on virtually a monthly basis which I thought was a waste of resources.

It's due to the (minute) possibility of the blood you were given being contaminated with vCJD. If you then donated your blood you there's the potential for transmitting it to multiple people. Given the ongoing horrific contaminated blood scandal this is a very sensible rule, it's not just made up to annoy people.

But why not have a range of needle sizes? Theres no reason someone can't give blood due to small veins. It's incompetence in planning.

I think they still need to check your blood type before donation just to be sure. And if your schedule is packed then maybe all the appointments are available to others less busy?
They do still do blood drives in vans/offices but you need to check when your local one is happening.

The NHS bashers love saying stuff like this- They're apparently desperate for blood but won't take mine, how desperate can they be?!

They're just busy! If you're desperate, go elsewhere!