Discussion
Now, it must be 25 years since I gave a pint of the red stuff. Today, I saw a session at my local village hall and thought I'd pop in and start giving blood again.
Oh, no you can't!
- Have you made an appointment?
- Err, no. Do I need to?
- Oh yes, have you registered?
- Well, I was sort of hoping to do that now.
- No, you have to ring up or do it on line.
- Right, so you don't want to take my blood?
- No, we don't; not without registration. You register on line, we send you some forms, then you get a donor number, then you get an appointment.
- Aren't you always trying to recruit new donors?
- Oh yes, we always need more blood donors.
- I see. Goodbye.
Is it me, or are they over complicating giving blood and actually could discourage people from giving?
Oh, no you can't!
- Have you made an appointment?
- Err, no. Do I need to?
- Oh yes, have you registered?
- Well, I was sort of hoping to do that now.
- No, you have to ring up or do it on line.
- Right, so you don't want to take my blood?
- No, we don't; not without registration. You register on line, we send you some forms, then you get a donor number, then you get an appointment.
- Aren't you always trying to recruit new donors?
- Oh yes, we always need more blood donors.
- I see. Goodbye.
Is it me, or are they over complicating giving blood and actually could discourage people from giving?
I used to work in the plasma industry and ensuring the safety of blood products is of paramount importance, especially where blood/plasma gets pooled together. UK donors are actually considered too risky for pooled donations these days, so it is imported from the USA instead, from a small population of tightly monitored donors.
The BTS no doubt takes great care in making sure that it knows who its donors are for quality/safety. For that reason, it does not surprise me that they need some form of pre-registration before taking any of the red stuff from your arm, but it does save lives - so good on you for taking the initiative. I hope that you go onto register and give.
The BTS no doubt takes great care in making sure that it knows who its donors are for quality/safety. For that reason, it does not surprise me that they need some form of pre-registration before taking any of the red stuff from your arm, but it does save lives - so good on you for taking the initiative. I hope that you go onto register and give.
TUS 373 said:
I used to work in the plasma industry and ensuring the safety of blood products is of paramount importance, especially where blood/plasma gets pooled together. UK donors are actually considered too risky for pooled donations these days, so it is imported from the USA instead, from a small population of tightly monitored donors.
The BTS no doubt takes great care in making sure that it knows who its donors are for quality/safety. For that reason, it does not surprise me that they need some form of pre-registration before taking any of the red stuff from your arm, but it does save lives - so good on you for taking the initiative. I hope that you go onto register and give.
How do you mean? The donors in the states live some sort of professional donating life? What makes us too unsafe?The BTS no doubt takes great care in making sure that it knows who its donors are for quality/safety. For that reason, it does not surprise me that they need some form of pre-registration before taking any of the red stuff from your arm, but it does save lives - so good on you for taking the initiative. I hope that you go onto register and give.
New variant CJD. The British, or anyone who has lived in the UK for more than six months, won't be able to donate blood in most of Europe, USA, Australia and New Zealand (and probably a few more that I haven't been bothered to look up).
Some donor sessions will accept people who rock up off the street but, to reduce waiting times and to make the actual donation process less of a hassle, the NHSBT are moving towards appointments. The session you went to may have been full with appointments and would have been unable to fit you in.
Some donor sessions will accept people who rock up off the street but, to reduce waiting times and to make the actual donation process less of a hassle, the NHSBT are moving towards appointments. The session you went to may have been full with appointments and would have been unable to fit you in.
It has been appointments for a while now, though the first time I donated they registered me there and then, drained me of a pint of blood and gave me a cuppa. I give every time the donor wagon comes to my place of work or if I miss it another local session.
Imho if you can do it you should
Imho if you can do it you should
I just turned up when I had my first session three years ago as they were advertising it at my work. I've noticed in the last year and a half they don't seem be advertising the sessions I now book for (same place) but do at other times.
Sorry you had a bad experience anyway OP but don't be put off. Registering and booking is usually pretty painless.
Sorry you had a bad experience anyway OP but don't be put off. Registering and booking is usually pretty painless.
I will give blood, but I just feel they are not helping themselves. Everybody has busy enough lives, they should try at least to make it as uncomplicated as possible.
Since 95% of the population rely on 5% giving blood, how many others were turned away today and will not bother? Crying shame!
Since 95% of the population rely on 5% giving blood, how many others were turned away today and will not bother? Crying shame!
RobbieL said:
I wish I could do this - every time they stick the needle in me I pass out. I'm not sqeamish in the slightest but this happens every time.
I'd be the worlds worst smackhead!
Ah well, you would not be the first they see passing out...... A few people at my old work did it when they gave blood for the first time.I'd be the worlds worst smackhead!
Tyre Smoke said:
I will give blood, but I just feel they are not helping themselves. Everybody has busy enough lives, they should try at least to make it as uncomplicated as possible.
To be fair, as a regular donor, going from a system of "turn up and hope you get done at some point in the next two hours" to booking an appointment and being done and out in under 30 mins is a massive step in that direction. BTS are advertising on our local radio now saying they are desperately short of blood but whenever i try to get an appointment they are fully booked. I have donated regularily over the past 25years (35plus donations) but have given up trying now.
If they spent more on donating facilities and less on advertising maybe they could find a space for me.
Plus they nearly killed me once, the nurse came over and removed my full bag, clamped the pipe and cut it. Off she went saying she would leave me for a 3min rest, after 30 seconds or so my 10yr old son who had come along to see what it was all about started getting a concerned look on his face and pointed on the floor, "er is that supposed to happen" I sat up and looked down, the dopey cow had only clamped the pipe the wrong side of the cut and i was still donating, all over the floor.
She was v appologetic and they set about mopping up my life blood.
Anyway i had 2 chocy biscuits to make up for it
I would like to carry on donating but the old turn up and wait system was much better imo. BUT i am going on the website now to see if i can find a session.....
If they spent more on donating facilities and less on advertising maybe they could find a space for me.
Plus they nearly killed me once, the nurse came over and removed my full bag, clamped the pipe and cut it. Off she went saying she would leave me for a 3min rest, after 30 seconds or so my 10yr old son who had come along to see what it was all about started getting a concerned look on his face and pointed on the floor, "er is that supposed to happen" I sat up and looked down, the dopey cow had only clamped the pipe the wrong side of the cut and i was still donating, all over the floor.
She was v appologetic and they set about mopping up my life blood.
Anyway i had 2 chocy biscuits to make up for it
I would like to carry on donating but the old turn up and wait system was much better imo. BUT i am going on the website now to see if i can find a session.....
TUS 373 said:
I used to work in the plasma industry and ensuring the safety of blood products is of paramount importance, especially where blood/plasma gets pooled together. UK donors are actually considered too risky for pooled donations these days, so it is imported from the USA instead, from a small population of tightly monitored donors.
The BTS no doubt takes great care in making sure that it knows who its donors are for quality/safety. For that reason, it does not surprise me that they need some form of pre-registration before taking any of the red stuff from your arm, but it does save lives - so good on you for taking the initiative. I hope that you go onto register and give.
Hmmm, wonder why the Yanks became so cautious about blood donors?The BTS no doubt takes great care in making sure that it knows who its donors are for quality/safety. For that reason, it does not surprise me that they need some form of pre-registration before taking any of the red stuff from your arm, but it does save lives - so good on you for taking the initiative. I hope that you go onto register and give.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Contaminated_haemophi...
fergywales said:
TUS 373 said:
I used to work in the plasma industry and ensuring the safety of blood products is of paramount importance, especially where blood/plasma gets pooled together. UK donors are actually considered too risky for pooled donations these days, so it is imported from the USA instead, from a small population of tightly monitored donors.
The BTS no doubt takes great care in making sure that it knows who its donors are for quality/safety. For that reason, it does not surprise me that they need some form of pre-registration before taking any of the red stuff from your arm, but it does save lives - so good on you for taking the initiative. I hope that you go onto register and give.
Hmmm, wonder why the Yanks became so cautious about blood donors?The BTS no doubt takes great care in making sure that it knows who its donors are for quality/safety. For that reason, it does not surprise me that they need some form of pre-registration before taking any of the red stuff from your arm, but it does save lives - so good on you for taking the initiative. I hope that you go onto register and give.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Contaminated_haemophi...
Some scientists are apparently close to perfecting an aritifical blood replacement that can be used with any blood group - nice work.
I donate very often, just a case of ringing up and saying I'll be there at x time, tyvm. I usually drive down to the session (FWIW a pint of blood out of me doesn't really do much until I eat something) and end up giving 4 attractive girls a lift home as well. I do something for humanity, and it rewards me with good quality phone numbers. Happy days.
I donate very often, just a case of ringing up and saying I'll be there at x time, tyvm. I usually drive down to the session (FWIW a pint of blood out of me doesn't really do much until I eat something) and end up giving 4 attractive girls a lift home as well. I do something for humanity, and it rewards me with good quality phone numbers. Happy days.
I gave blood for the second time last Thursday evening. I tried to make an appointment the week before and they didn't have space. So I tried again, and they didn't have space. However, they did make an appointment for me around the same time and emailed me this. That seemed to work fine for me.
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