To ask if anyone else can't donate blood due to their type?

[Glowup33333]

I've searched for an appointment between now and December 2025, even 2 hours away and there is nothing.
I am AB+ which apparently is a rare type that not many people can receive, so there is low demand for my blood. I donated a couple of years ago but I've been trying for a long time to get an appointment to no avail.
I'm eligible to donate plasma, but my nearest centre is 3 hours away (only 3 in the country) and I was told I may be refused at the appointment due to my weight not being what they required, so it didn't seem worth the risk.

It's a shame but not much I can do, has anyone else had this?

I'm O- but only managed to donate around 3 times as I either didn't weigh enough or had low iron. Then I had a blood transfusion so can’t ( even though the transfusion was in another country so no CJD risk).

I can't give blood because I live in Spain and anyone who lived in the UK during the mad cow years can't donate here

Im B+ bloodd group, apparently my blood goes to the neonatal wards, Im not sure why, but I love the idea I can help tiny babies.

I've never heard of men being able to donate more regularly? Where I live everyone has to wait three months between donations, whether a man or a woman.

I’m B plus and also my blood goes to Prem babies , I don’t have some infection that most people have apparently- hospitals from around the country request my blood and a special bag is waiting to collect it , I get hounded to turn up for my appointments!

It used to be the same where I live, they only change the rules last year.

I’m O+ and always needed as it is the most common type. I always used to give regularly. However a couple of years ago they changed their policy so 1. they can’t palpate to find the vein after cleaning, and 2. They only have one try at finding a vein, so they won’t try the other arm. My veins are always a bit tricky to find so on the last couple of visits they didn’t manage to find it. It seems like a bit of a waste of time now. So annoying.

I am B- and had an email asking me to book my next appointment before I got home. According to the UK Give Blood website men can give blood every 12 weeks, women every 16 weeks.

That's not true at all. Cross matched blood is given except in an absolute dire emergency when uncross-matched (flying squad) blood is given. The vast majority of blood transfusions are cross matched.

Still chocolate biscuits in Scotland- I donated yesterday and they were well stocked with Tunnocks tea cakes and Kit Kats

That's not true. For most patients, they will be fully cross matched before receiving blood. O neg would only be used in the must urgent of situations.

And women can give plasma.

A bit off Topic, but I live in France and can't donate blood in this country because I lived in the UK during the mad cow period! (Late 90s).

I’m O+ and used to give blood regularly, but got a snotty general letter saying I could no longer take the DC with me. Unfortunately the only time and venue compatible with my working hours was between school run and their swimming lesson.

The fact that they’d sit in the same spot in silence with a book or a device meant nothing, so I had to request to be removed from the list.

I understand that they don’t want children running around and causing havoc in a donation centre, but mine were always read the riot act beforehand and were good as gold, so I was most put out!🤣

Reminds me that I ought to get the eldest signed up to give blood now they’re an adult.

I'm A- which they like as it's universal for platelets. I'm also negative for cyto-megalovirus which means my blood is useful for newborns and my blood packs always have a big NEO label attached.

Just donated today after a years ban due to low iron.

Exactly the same as me op, I actually emailed them a few weeks ago and they said I wasn't needed. I will try and find the reply.

I do feel it could just tell me that when searching for an appt rather than just saying nothing available.

I have given 10 donations

I expect your organs will be fine. I was told that they'd whip mine out no problem but, I can't donate blood anymore.

Reason being that blood is too much of a risk but somebody needing an organ will accept that risk because they need that organ.

Here's hoping it doesn't happen for a while for either of us!

I can't donate as I've had a transfusion, I should be able to donate for my own use - apparently when I needed it I used up all of the local stocks.

I'm exactly the same as you, A- and also get the big Neo label. I'm coming to the end of my years suspension and have an appointment end of Feb but I'm really nervous my iron will still be on the low side and I'll be struck off forever, which I assume is the next step. I want to get to 50 units (I'm on 43). 🤞🏻

I’m moving to Scotland now to demand a Tunnocks tea cake! It’s definitely crisps here in the uncivilised south dammit!

Me too, in fact partner also happens to be O- !

I'm B+ and always receive lots of reminder texts saying my blood is urgently needed etc

We still get biscuits at my local donation site. I always have an orange club 😊

I gave a few times but was eventually told not to bother because my tiny puny veins made trying to extract a commonplace pint of A+ not worth the effort.

We had to determine our blood group at school, remember our biology teacher saying "jab yourselves or jab each other or I'll do it for you" when doing the test.

The 70s

Not to make you too jealous, but I'm in the south east and got crisps AND a mint Club last time!

I'm O- and my blood is suitable for neonatals so lovely to have such a useful blood group but Holy crap they lay it on thick with the guilt tripping to make back to back appointments. I have 2 booked in at a time now.
Back in the 90s I had a video cassette through the post with Davina Mccall wanging on about how important O- blood was whereas my A- dh just got 'it would be lovely of you could make it but no bother either way' type messages.

I feel too guilty to get another piercing as I'll have to take longer between appointments.

Similar. I'd donated since the age of 18, several dozen times in total but my veins were always a bit tricky and low blood pressure too. I had about three failed attempts on the trot and then they said it wasn't worth coming back any more. Gutted.