Blood Donation problems
 

I've been donating blood for years but over the last year have found that it is becoming more and more difficult, and I'm sure its not just because of post-coronavirus restrictions.

I keep getting letters and phone calls from them saying that stocks are running low and I should book an appointment. But the next available appointments at my nearest location (a major donation site) are from the middle of March. I can't book that far in advance and, if I do, will inevitably have to change/cancel it nearer the time. Of course, come March the next appointments will be May or June or even later.

Phoning up to make an appointment is no better than doing it online - I think they only have access to the same details as the website.

The service has never been so bad and I feel it is only getting worse.

Surely if they want my blood that much they should make it easier. Its getting to the stage where I feel like giving up completely because its too much hassle. Made my 74th donation over 12 months ago and, since then, have been completely unable to make it 75.

Any other donors here ... and do you have the same problems as I do?

Re: Blood Donation problems
 

I also donate and do sometimes find it difficult to get an appointment as near to the 12 week point as I can. However once I make the appontment I will always endeavour to attend. I have had a couple of sessions cancelled at the last minute but I suspect that was due to staff levels probably related to Covid. I would say that it is harder now to book than it was pre Covid.

Re: Blood Donation problems
 

Do they no longer do walk-ins at the permanent centres? That's what I used to do if I couldn't get an appointment at a convenient mobile session. Never had to wait more than an hour.

I did about 85 donations before I had to stop for health reasons. But I never got my reward for 75 because they managed to lose my records when I moved between health board areas :(

Re: Blood Donation problems
 

In EU our blood is a no-no, mad cow thing.

Re: Blood Donation problems
 

CFJ, it was the whole world that banned us, think most of the world has lifted it now though, shame we didn't have a similar ban on America in the 70's & 80's when we infected people with Aids and hepatitis because of their untested blood from prisoners and drug addicts