Do Something Amazing- Give Blood

torbrex

Another deposit today, one of the quickest I have done a 'triple' for ages, I was out of that chair in under 90 mins which was just as well as there was someone waiting to get started.
There were plenty of sweets to go around today, someone had brought in a big tin of quality street, but I managed to resist.

Rikki

I've donated today.

Giving blood is a s easy as 1 2 3............... :j







1 pint.........:T

2 hot chocolate drinks....... :drool:

3 chocolate biscuits.......:shhh:


What are you waiting for?

quickstepqueen

Made my 2nd donation the other and I was so chuffed with myself.

The first time I went I kept feeling faint and I'm sure I spent more time with my legs in the air than giving blood. Unfortunately that put me off a bit. Fortunately though the blood service rang me to advise me of an upcoming session and did I want to book. I decided that I was being absolutely stupid for not going, i mean it's worth being a bit embarrassed if the blood is being of good use so i booked an appt so that I couldb't back out at the last minute.

When I got to my session i told the chap there what happened last time and he was brilliant and everything went so well.

So if someone's first time didn't go so well.....please please DO go back again. For me I was absolutely fine. I ate and drank plenty beforehand and by telling them I was anxious helped because they kept making me laugh to calm me down.

The staff there are absolute troopers.

vfm

My husband and I gave blood for 30 years but sadly we have recently stopped due to the so called improvements in the service.
Years ago before so called 'customer service' the service you received was brilliant. No appointments, friendly staff, made to feel welcome etc.
Lately when we have been we have been told that we would have approx 1 hours wait before we would be able to give the blood. Therefore the total time would be at least 1 and half hours. You were in and out within three quarters of an hour years ago. Also we don't find the staff as friendly as the volunteers used to be. We were informed to make an appointment if we didn't want to wait in future. The day we got our letter inviting us to attend, we telephoned for an appointment at any time of the day and were told the session was full.
We have brought these issues to the attention of the Blood Servicemany times (in writing) who apologise and say they are working on improving procedures. We got lots of letters from them and magazines. We don't need these we just need friendly staff who would be there to take the blood we used to offer, without either making an appointment or being there for hours.
I'm sure there are areas of the country where the service is still good but until improvements are made in our area then unfortunately we after 30 years of giving, won't be.

torbrex

vfm wrote: »

My husband and I gave blood for 30 years but sadly we have recently stopped due to the so called improvements in the service.
Years ago before so called 'customer service' the service you received was brilliant. No appointments, friendly staff, made to feel welcome etc.
Lately when we have been we have been told that we would have approx 1 hours wait before we would be able to give the blood. Therefore the total time would be at least 1 and half hours. You were in and out within three quarters of an hour years ago. Also we don't find the staff as friendly as the volunteers used to be. We were informed to make an appointment if we didn't want to wait in future. The day we got our letter inviting us to attend, we telephoned for an appointment at any time of the day and were told the session was full.
We have brought these issues to the attention of the Blood Servicemany times (in writing) who apologise and say they are working on improving procedures. We got lots of letters from them and magazines. We don't need these we just need friendly staff who would be there to take the blood we used to offer, without either making an appointment or being there for hours.
I'm sure there are areas of the country where the service is still good but until improvements are made in our area then unfortunately we after 30 years of giving, won't be.

I am sorry that you feel that way, I look on donating blood as a duty rather than a gift and I am afraid I cannot foresee anything other than illness that would ever prevent me from donating my blood, I even avoid taking headache remidies so that I can keep my appointments.
I have been donating blood for nearly 30 years and these days I am a platlete donor, nothing special, I visit my 'local' donor suite every 3 weeks or so, it is a 60 mile round trip. It takes about 45 minutes to drive the 30 miles to Dundee and I am usually about 90 minutes in a very uncomfortable chair to give my donation then 45 minutes drive home again so I need to take an afternoon off work to go and donate. Last time I donated I had to re-arrange my working week and drive down from Wick (250 miles) to keep my appointment.
The transfusion service needs all the donors it can get, trouble is some of the more populars sessions to tend to get rather busy and often find that they have to turn people away, you should ask if there are other sessions perhaps at a different time of day, I know at Dundee on a Wednesday the staff can be all sitting around one minute and rushed off their feet the next as the donors tend to come in waves at particular times.

ely

I have been today and given my pint

then got free tea and biscuits

I also look at it as a duty - no matter how long it takes - you are possibily saving a life !!

eyelinerprincess

Sorry to jump in, but how long after a piercing can you give blood?

I put it off because of my fear of needles, but after being in hospital more times than I would like and getting more needles than I'd care to mention, I'd like to donate. I had my piercing (nose) in August/September.

juno

eyelinerprincess wrote: »

Sorry to jump in, but how long after a piercing can you give blood?

I put it off because of my fear of needles, but after being in hospital more times than I would like and getting more needles than I'd care to mention, I'd like to donate. I had my piercing (nose) in August/September.

It's 6 months after a piercing, so you'll be eligible soon

Sola

We have a mobile unit coming to work next Tuesday and I'm hoping to make my first donation. I phoned the National Blood Service after completing their online questionnaire; she confirmed Spain as a holiday destination was clear, but couldn't tell me if use of codeine would make me unsuitable. She said I had to turn up on the day and explain to the nurses, who would advise me. Surely they should have a list of medication which bars you from donating? I'm planning to not take any for 72 hours beforehand in the hope that I'll be able to donate, because the pain of not taking the meds is worth it if I can do it.

A question - do they write and tell you what your blood group is? How did the rest of you find out?

robnye

whilst agree the appointment system is more efficient, it does take away the casualness of donating. i also had a bad experience last november, taking 3 hours because i hadnt made an appointment.
i wrote to their customer services to complain that it made me feel unworthy, for the first time in 20+ years of donating.....

last week i made an appointment and was in and out in 90 mins..... whilst this did seem to be slower than when i first donated all those years ago.....

oh and a byword - try not to wash your hands within 30 mins of going to donate..... i did and they thought i had low iron levels..... had to have blood taken from one arm, tested on the spot for it to come back fine..... then donated from the other arm...... i felt like a pin cushion..... ;D