Donating blood is not made easy for people

[Floogal]

Listening to today's news, regarding the severe shortages of blood stocks and the call to get more donors has got me thinking.

https://www.itv.com/news/2025-06-09/nhs-calls-for-an-extra-200000-blood-donors-as-stocks-run-low

They don't exactly make it easy for people to donate as sessions are often at inconvenient times and places (week days and working hours when most people are working). And as a former donor myself, I was often made to feel that they were doing me a favour by letting me donate. Not forgetting the cancelled sessions.

It sounds like shortages are being caused by overly bureaucratic systems rather than a lack of willing donors.

When I used to donate years ago and was similar weight they used to take a 1/2 donation from me. Could have changed as I’ve not donated in quite a few years.

I have only given blood 3 times (all in the last year) and have to say I haven’t found this to be my experience. I called the main number to enquire if I was eligible as lived outside the UK for a few years but they confirmed the country was fine. They booked my appointment for me that week in a community hall near me after work. I have been back twice now and appointments are available until 7pm. Parking nearby and all of the staff are very friendly. I like getting the text to say where my blood has been used.

I've donated 35 pints, I don't have an issue booking, the system here works well, the venues are great, sessions run until 7pm, plenty of parking. I have had a few sessions cancelled which is frustrating as the next sessions are usually months away.
My issue is that 1/3 of the times I go to donate recently, the Hb measurement is a smidge under the level set, meaning I can't donate. I understand there have to be things in place to keep people safe, but blood tests show me I'm not anaemic, I'm healthy and fit etc, never had issues after donating and have been doing it since I was a teenager.
I'm taking liquid iron to see if that helps before next donation in July. If not, I think I'll stop trying to donate, which is really sad.

they ask you to confirm as the appointment that you weigh between 55kg and 100 and something kg, can’t recall the upper limit.

It’s getting more and more mysterious- just tried again, and instead of east London, i’m now getting hampshire (yes!). End of October though, so still can’t book as i have no idea how school/work looks like in 4.5 months.

I gave a few weeks ago, after being emailed about the shortage - I used to be a regular donor but had drifted away for various reasons - and everything was absolutely fine. I looked online and the sessions in my town were full until September, but there were a few appointments in the next town over the following week in the early evening - a 20 minutes drive. On the day everyone was lovely, and although I was asked a few extra questions about medical conditions and places I'd been on holiday, I'd checked online in advance so I was fairly sure I'd be eligible and wouldn't be wasting their time or mine. I've had an email since advising me that my blood was being sent to Southampton Hospital to be used. I'll definitely make an effort to donate more regularly from now on!

I also agree. I keep getting contacted about giving blood, but when I go on the appointments are months away and I often can’t commit that far in advance. The nearest place that I can go to is next to my work, which would be great, but if I’m not able to make the appointment far in advance then the only slots are between 6-8pm and so I’d either need to go home and drive back again later, or hang around after work. Plus they’re often running behind when I do go, so it ends up taking longer than expected. I do think it’s really important, and I do want to do it, but it’s a faff to sort.

It would be good if the Blood Donor Service could partner with workplaces and hold sessions actually in the workplace - I am sure they'd get loads of takers then, people would welcome a little break from work at minimal inconvenience.

@Floogal I’m sorry to hear they make it such a logistical nightmare and that the teams who do it can be unpleasant. But I want to say thank you to you and everyone else who has donated blood. Without it I wouldn’t be here, after a 4.5 litre haemorrhage. So a big thank you for all your donations helping save lives. I looked into donating myself but it’s not possible now that I have had transfusions. I have a family friend who has recently completed her 100th donation and also said they are making it more difficult.

I can’t give blood as I received blood in 1995! I donated blood in 1998 then they changed the rules…
Annoys the hell out of me even though I know why.

When my child was young after waiting an hour I had to leave as I knew it wouldn’t be done by the time I had to pick them up. I always made an appointment but they still seemed to do it in the order of whoever walked through the door.

The blood service is understaffed and probably underfunded too. I hate that they send you emails asking you to book an appointment. When there are no sodding appointments available.

They no longer run donation sessions near me. I travelled after work to another town a few times, but it took a huge chunk out of the evening as I could only go after work, if I could get an appointment. They were always running behind.

It was best when they used to book you for the next session whilst you were having a drink after donating. They no longer do that, presumably because it means a team member is doing admin instead of something they're more useful/trained for.

If I donate now it's at a city centre donation centre and I walk in. If they can accommodate me, I donate.

I remember this happening years ago when I worked at a very big place. Do they do this any more, I wonder? It was very much encouraged to go and donate (and get out of work for a while!)

I donated regularly for around 20 years without any issues. The last time I went I was turned away because I didn't know all the ins and outs of what equipment had been used during an operation I had when I was 3 months old. It was never explained why this was an issue all of a sudden.

I’ve got 2 centres within easy reach but I get rejected about once in every 5 visits because my iron levels aren’t high enough, despite taking supplements.

It tends to be linked to my menstrual cycle, but now I’m in peri the gap between periods can be anything from a fortnight to 2 months. So if I’m having to book months in advance it’s a gamble.

One more rejection & they’ll ban me for a year.

I've given up. There used to be donation sessions at a local hall. These were stopped (hall not big enough for a full session, apparently) even though it was always heaving.

When I booked again I said this was likely to lose them donors, and was told, 'We have a permanent place in town, we could fill it three times over, we have loads of donors'. Oh, okay, you don't need us, then?

I then gave blood once an 8 mile drive away. Then a session I had booked was cancelled, then iirc I went (having booked) and there wasn't space, and then I was cancelled again. At that point I gave up. I feel bad about it as I donated for years, but it was a lot of hassle to get to a session, time was tight and I didn't feel that I was needed.

I finally managed to book last night after being in a queue . Used to have regular sessions in my village or nearby town. Now nearest sessions are 25+ minute drive away. I can give again from start of Aug, got an appt eventually for end Sept!

It’s frustrating that you can no longer bring children with you when you donate. If you could I would be able to book an appointment after work. Instead it’s a race against the clock to be able to get back in time for childcare closing. Especially if they leave you waiting an hour.

worst thing is they still have the stickers that say my mummy/daddy donated today at my local centre.

I think the risk of the children not behaving is too high. I work in medical and cannot believe how many just roam about clinics touching stuff despite being told not to.
If the parent is in the middle of donating they can’t get up and get them if they misbehave. The staff won’t be allowed to touch the children, and even telling them off could result in the parent getting angry or (what I see a lot) the child just ignores them. Then what do you do? Other blood donors leave their personal stuff under the chair. You can’t have kids touching it all. I once had a child walk into my surgery while I was with a patient (parent was in another surgery). I stopped my treatment and asked where his mum was (expecting a frantic parent to come rushing in apologising), but instead of answering he went straight to my patients hand bag and started looking through it! I had to jump up and grab it away from him. Then walk him back to find his mum while he was shouting at me that he was “just looking!!!”

I have none of these problems - I live in suburban Glasgow. The blood people come to a local church hall about 3 times a year, the sessions are something like 1-4pm and then 5-8pm. I have just logged into the site to find the next session which is 28 July and I've booked a slot. Never had an appointment cancelled.

This - the iron bit.

I've had this a few times. Sometimes I've failed the floating blob test but passed the sample in a machine test.

However I've not always passed this test and was told there was a 3 strikes and you're out rule. I'm on 2 strikes at the moment but haven't been for a year or two.

I'm not surprised they have a shortage of blood. I used to donate regularly starting in the 1990s. It has got progressively more and more difficult.

No more massive turn up and wait sessions at the local music venue or sports stadium. No more blood bus on the business park.

Pre-covid I went to the permanent centre in the city where I work, during and post covid with wfh I needed a different location but despite being continually called and emailed there was never an available appointment in my borough or nearby. I eventually decided to travel to the next county for an appointment, was kept waiting for over an hour and then a grumpy employee who clearly just couldn't be bothered took a vague look at me told me my veins weren't good enough and sent me away.

I pointed out that I had been donating for years without issue and that they never have trouble getting blood if they use my right arm. The permanent centre had asked me about platelet donation so clearly had no concerns. They said things change and it was probably "my age" and then told me I would have a marker put on my record so I could never come back.

I was terribly upset, I still am to be honest.

Good grief!

Forgot to mention earlier that I've only ever had one session cancelled, because when they turned up to the venue the heating wasn't working and it was winter. Fair enough. I got the text before I set off, so it wasn't a big deal.

I used to donate regularly and would still do so if the system worked. Several times in recent years I’ve had a reminder of a booking in the morning only for it then to be cancelled which is so frustrating.
I now find it impossible to book anything locally as every time I check sessions are fully booked. They even ring to ask me to book but can’t actually offer a local session. There used to be three halls used in my area, now it’s only one.