Blood donor service...... going down the pan?

[martint235]

I used to go regularly. I didn't really mind the wait, just took my kindle along. However my local session was moved to about 3 miles away with no easy way of getting there so unfortunately that was the end of that.

 

[Kestevan]

On the other hand, the sessions I attend seem to work really well. I get an appointment, and I'm usually sat down bleeding within 5 mins of the time. However there do seem to be plenty of "drop-ins" turning up, and from what I've seen no-one has to hang about for long. Admittedly this may be because of the more rural location/lower numbers..

I suspect the appointment system is successful because it serves as a convenient reminder, I get a letter a week before my next app confirming time and simply turn up. Oh and I cant say I've ever been made to feel like a "commodity" when giving blood.

I do occasionally get a letter asking me to switch to being a platelet donor (AB+ blood is universal platelet donor) but this would involve a 4hr trip to Bradford up to every 2 weeks.... my altruism doesn't stretch that far unfortunately.

 

[Tim Hall]

I used to go regularly. I didn't really mind the wait, just took my kindle along. However my local session was moved to about 3 miles away with no easy way of getting there so unfortunately that was the end of that.

Have you not got some method of transport available? Perhaps a bike?

I've been giving since $AGES_AGO, gold card and every thing. I reckon that each time I've been there's been something different. Different bed layout, different check in procedure, clenching the cylinder, not clenching the cylinder, plaster, local anaesthetic. It's the uncertainty that keeps me on my toes and gets me back time after time.

 

[Kestevan]

Not every two weeks, every 4-6 weeks.

From the Platelet Donation website FAQ....
http://www.blood.co.uk/platelets/faqs/

How often can I donate platelets?
Platelet donors may donate up to 24 times a year with a minimum interval between donations of 14 days.

 

[martint235]

Have you not got some method of transport available? Perhaps a bike?
.

I have but not one I'd like to leave unattended in darkest Welling/Bexleyheath

 

[Kestevan]

May, not obliged to.

Correct.... Which is where the "up to" part of my original statement enters into things.......

All academic as it's not something I'm prepared to do "up to" every 2 weeks anyway.

 

[Tim Hall]

I have but not one I'd like to leave unattended in darkest Welling/Bexleyheath

This seems like a good reason to buy another bike.

Blood group AB- N+1

 

[Pat "5mph"]

The Europeans claim we have all got mad cow disease so they will not take our blood. The real reason is that their puny foreign bodies would not be able to handle virile British blood. They would just explode.

Probably.

I am European

 

[subaqua]

I am European

no , Jockanese


and as a flip side to the coin, I went to a session as a prebooked and waited and waited and waited for somebody to come to "reception" to book me in . after 20 minutes of not even being acknowledged i left. i had a call the following day asking why i hadn't attended and that appointment times were valuable yadda yadda yadda. I explained very politely to the caller that my time was also very valuable and that had somebody acknowledged me at reception i would have happily waited for a lot longer.

 

[martint235]

This seems like a good reason to buy another bike.

Blood group AB- N+1

Only just bought a new bike thanks to a toerag running into mine in his car last week. Don't think I could get another! And certainly not a Brompton!!