Half Blood Donations?

[WhatWouldChristineCagneyDo]

There was a point in the early 2000s when I was a semi regular blood donor (UK based) I always used to feel quite grim after a full donation and was advised that I could give half donations, which I continued to do for some time, having been assured by donation centre staff that it was still well worth doing. If I recall corrwectly they said that half donations were split into component parts.

I recently signed up again as a donor but I can't see any reference to half donations at all on the website. I was called last week by the service who wanted to book me in for an appointment but the person I spoke to had no idea if half donations still existed. He suggested I book in then ask when I arrived, but I don't want to waste their (or my) time.

Does anyone know if half-donations are still a thing these days? TIA !

I thought this was going to be a Harry Potter reference!

Sorry, not helpful. I’ve given blood a few times recently and they are always very strict about checking how you feel and advising not to donate if you feel remotely not up to it. I can’t imagine they’d agree to only half a pint on the grounds that giving a full pint would make you feel unwell. Too much risk.

And I am O negative so they desperately want my blood.

at the Harry Potter reference.

I'm a donor too and haven't heard of the half-blood donations (I'm a Mudblood and they accept mine). As the pp said, they are so careful about not taking blood that you aren't strong enough to give that I imagine they just wouldn't accept a donation from you in these circs.

The rules seem to change slightly every time I go, because they are so vigilant about continuing to review and mitigate every potential risk.

I think they can only use half donations for testing machines and as control blood for the tests so maybe it isn't worth them doing it any more now that the tech has moved on?

Thanks for that, hopefully someone will see this who can give a definitive answer. It's completely daft that I can't get an answer without actually attending an appointment.

My first donation made me faint and vomit, that's when I was advised to move to half donations. And they were absolutely fine for me. I also started insisting that they take the donation from my right arm rather than have them spend 10 minutes digging around searching for a vein on the left. I wouldn't attempt a donation if feeling less than 100%.

Seems likely the whole system has moved on then, it has been a very long time. I'm A+ so doubt I'm a particularly important donor anyway.

Seems a bit of a shame though, they could have my meagre half pint if they wanted it! Tony Hancock described a pint as 'a full arm' but this would just be a few fingers 😄

It's completely daft that I can't get an answer without actually attending an appointment.

It isn't really daft. Every one who shows up does so in the knowledge that they might be rejected (for any number of reasons). And if it is the first time you have attended for quite a while then there is bound to be even more uncertainty. The phone operators can't even begin to pre-empt that, so naturally they equivocate.
You are still doing your bit by going in the hope of being able to donate. That is exactly what the system relies on

@AlbertCamusflage it is a bit though, don't you think? If it's the case that it's full pint only these days then I know I can't do it at all. If there's other factors on the day (low iron etc) then fair enough

I don’t think they do this anymore? I felt faint after my first donation and then they struggled to get a vein on my 2nd. Each time they’ve mentioned that if the same problem arose twice they would advise me to stop donating. (Which in fact I’ve done anyway cos it makes me feel rubbish afterwards)