Blood donation

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PeteXXX

Cake or ice cream? The choice is endless ...
Location
Hamtun
579921


59th pint of the finest A+ donated today, in Bugbrooke for a change. 👍🏼
 

PeteXXX

Cake or ice cream? The choice is endless ...
Location
Hamtun
60th pint leeched out, today.. 🆎

Slight problem with the all new singing and dancing super-duper NHS It system in that someone changed the printer cartridge and it didn't like it and the whole system crashed :ohmy:
 
My old local donation site was over subscribed. You had to book for the next as you were registering for the current. Even with an appointment if you weren't there in the first 30 to 45 minutes of the late afternoon/ early evening donation you'd not get through.

I got to 30 or so then realised I'd been unable to donate for 3 or 4 sessions in a row so stopped bothering.

I am pleased with myself because at about 15 donations I had stitches under local anaesthetic that didn't work at all. I felt needles and thread going through my flesh without any numbing of the site. As someone who never at any stage in my life, including 3 or 4 years old getting my tonsils out, been bothered one bit by needles I developed a distinct stress response with every donation. Close to panic but I still have a further 15 or more donations.

I'd probably be on 50 by now if they could actually take all the blood on offer at that donation site. They do all those blood drives and adverts but they're turning away many who already try to give blood. That was even before the austerity happened too. Simply put they needed more donation sessions in my old small town. Moved now perhaps there's another location I could get into.
 

PeteXXX

Cake or ice cream? The choice is endless ...
Location
Hamtun
I had problems getting appointments a few years ago as I was on 5/7 afternoon shifts. Now I only do a couple of days a week it's easier to get a nearby appointment. Still, though, I book my next session just before my present one. My next session is already booked for May.
It annoyed me a bit, too, that they're advertising for blood but make it hard to do.
 

BrumJim

Forum Stalwart (won't take the hint and leave...)
They kind of gathered that I'd ridden there as my bike was in full view and I was carrying my helmet.
No comments re riding there, or back, tbh, but I did tell them I only had a couple of miles to home. I think they know me by now, anyway, as it's the same lovely bunch of NHS staff.

I returned after 5 years of not donating, but turned up as usual carrying a cycle helmet and wearing my cycling shoes. No comments at all.

As a returner, I had to suffer the indignity of the red card of shame, warning the staff to keep an eye on me and not allow me to escape early. Sometimes previously I have jumped off the chair, downed the juice and run out still scoffing the biscuits.

I'm A +, which is the second-most common type, but not as useful as O+, so there is almost always plenty of my stuff in stock. Only give blood so that I can save money getting pissed at the weekend.
 

byegad

Legendary Member
Location
NE England
I used to and they do rather like my rare blood (A-) but I’m under specialist care and take medication. So last time I went I sat around for an hour or more only to be told by the nurse, I can’t donate (even though the website and call centre said I could) :banghead:
Yes, I had similar experiences. My sister is a rare type, so much so that they didn't take it at the time but put her on a register. Police cars used to turn up at her home at all hours to take her to a hospital to give blood there and then.
So I went along to be tested. In my then job I often came across odd diseases so the first few times I never got past the form filling stage. Then I was taking medication that precluded donating. So I gave up
 
Very cool to see everyone giving blood, I have tried to do the same here in the US, but it seems I can't as they're concerned I may be a mad cow. or at least a mad cow carrier.

  • Creutzfeldt-Jacob Disease (“Mad Cow Disease”) Risk
    • Those who spent extended time in many European countries are now no longer deferred due to Mad Cow Disease risks. This change will likely allow many veterans and military personnel to donate blood.
  • Individuals in the following groups will remain deferred because of European residency:
    • Those who spent three months or more in the United Kingdom from 1980-1996*
    • Those who spent five years or more in France or Ireland from 1980-2001
 
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