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?

Women and men (over a certain weight) can donate plasma. It's the one with the least restrictions. Some women can't donate platelets.

Ready salted crisps are NOT the best crisps. My centre has the best biscuits though.
I used to donate in Luton and they had beer and would make sandwiches (e.g. corned beef on white bread).
in the early days of donation, my grandad used to be phoned and fly from Birmingham to say Scotland to donate in time for a patient. (Special O negative blood).

Well it IS a risk.

All blood transfusions are, but they are mitigated by typing and cross matching.

So someone who has a transfusion may have received blood from 2 or more people, so if you donate, anything that was in your blood to start with plus anything in the 2 (or more) people you received blood from, so your donation potentially includes three or more types of blood and the 3 times the 'nasties' that could be there.

Straw poll, how many of you have an anaesthetic to donate? A local not putting you completely under.

I'd given blood a few times and then moved 'down south' where they routinely gave a local and they thought it was a bit odd that I asked them not to.

Straw poll, how many of you have an anaesthetic to donate? A local not putting you completely under.

They haven't given a local for my donations for years.

Hope this is not a hijack. But anyone who has donated plasma is it the same sharp scratch level as donating blood? Now I can't donate blood as they don't need my type plasma might be an option. Think it would be a day off work though as not local.

Where are you getting that they are encouraging someone to lie? Surely it’s obvious that they are saying you can just find out what the minimum weight is and then check yourself at home so you don’t waste your time or theirs showing up if you’re too light to donate.

Women can, and do, donate

Who can donate plasma - NHS Blood Donation

Female friends donate Plasma.

It's 34 years since I first donated and haven't ever been given a local!!

WTF. I'm not standing for this. Budget brand crsisps only here. Not even a mini-cheddar to be had. I'm fuming!

My BMI is 20 exactly so I'm surprised it was labelled as potentially too low, as it's not borderline underweight. Thanks for all these replies it's been a very interesting discussion.

I'm too anemic generally and they told me my BMI, being naturally thin, I was not a good proposition!

Seems like they need medium-sized healthy people! :D

I'm BMI 19 and was told too thin. He said they'd have a hard time getting much blood out of me!

It depends on your weight and total volume of blood.
I have a low BMI. They struggle to find a good vein at times and did once ask if I met the weight limit. They clearly didn't see how tall I am(was in the donor chair), because at 5'8" being under 50kg would be very problematic.
Making sure I am more hydrated than I usually am really helps.

If you are around 5'2" then 50kg is a healthy BMI - it's about total volume of blood. Small people have less.

I've been giving blood in London for about 35 years and am a big wuss.

First they gave local anaesthetic routinely. Then they asked in a neutral "yes or no" way. Then it switched to being a special request. About five years ago I was told it would be an extra wait because the only nurse who could do it was on her break and I reluctantly agreed to try it without but only if they gave me a chocolate biscuit (it was a very quiet day and the chatty permanent centre staff were perfectly happy to go along with my frankly childish behaviour).

I've been very brave and gone without ever since.

I'm not in the UK. Here it just says to wait for 12 weeks between donations, and nothing about being a woman or a man. I've donated with that gap myself in the past and it's been fine.