Do Something Amazing- Give Blood

wosabe

You can donate blood every 12 weeks, so 4 times a year.

This is after you have donated blood for a minimum of a year, on the services website it says wait a minimum of 12 weeks, I know I have donated every 12 weeks when I used to be a whole blood donor.

noonesperfect

Sola, here is page from National Blood Service website which says you can donate whole blood approximately every 16 weeks, whatever anyone else might say...

http://www.blood.co.uk/pages/a1where.html

torbrex

Alternatly you could come to Scotland where you can give after 12 weeks, see here.

noonesperfect

The earliest I should be able to go to donate again in that case should be 26th May (12 weeks).
However the next session nearest that date at that venue is 9th June.

Other than the fact that this session may possibly be fully booked, can anyone explain why they've invited me back on 30th June (17 weeks) :rolleyes:

If they're so keen for you to rush back every 12 weeks why don't they leave it to the individual to book at different venues every 3 months then?

torbrex

They like to build in a safety margin for donors because all donors do not have the same rate of (blood) recovery, after giving whole blood it takes the bone marrow time to get the blood quality back to the required levels. You could try to change your appointment to 9th June it may be just the 'system' that has generated your next appointment, as long as you leave the minimum of 12 weeks and your haemoglobin level and your iron level are ok then your donation will go ahead.
Back in the days when I gave whole blood I comfotably gave every 12 weeks and now that I donate platelets I donate every 3 weeks which is the minimum for that type of donation, we are not all the same and some peoples blood takes longer to recover to normal levels.
I am in today for my latest deposit, does anyone want the biscuits that I wont be having?

torbrex

Went in yesterday and gave with no problems (apart from resisting all the biscuits) however 3 others were turned away because they had open wounds or cuts so that is something to watch out for next time anyone is going to donate. It is ok if the wound is dry with no infection but if it is seeping or is wet after the scab is removed you will not be allowed to donate.

Rikki

noonesperfect wrote: »

The earliest I should be able to go to donate again in that case should be 26th May (12 weeks).
However the next session nearest that date at that venue is 9th June.

Other than the fact that this session may possibly be fully booked, can anyone explain why they've invited me back on 30th June (17 weeks) :rolleyes:

If they're so keen for you to rush back every 12 weeks why don't they leave it to the individual to book at different venues every 3 months then?

Where I donate its every 4 months.

It used to be every six months when I first started.

noonesperfect

Rikki wrote: »

Where I donate its every 4 months.

It used to be every six months when I first started.

Hi Rikki,

It's the same here too. (used to be every 6 months when I started too) please see #350

As regards the last piece you've quoted from my post, I was being
ironic :rolleyes: :rotfl: :rotfl:

I attended a donor session on 3/3 and have made a further appointment for the 30/6 (that was the date suggested by the member of staff on the reception desk) and I'm happy with that. If they wanted me to go back sooner than 4 months they could have asked me to go back sooner. Suits me.

MrsE_2

You know what I don't understand, my husband would love to give blood but because he had a transfusion before a certain year he can't.
But don't they screen it all anyway?

noonesperfect

MrsE wrote: »

You know what I don't understand, my husband would love to give blood but because he had a transfusion before a certain year he can't.
But don't they screen it all anyway?

Yes blood is always screened (don't ask me what for though!!) but the NBS also rely on donors filling in forms declaring their state of health etc. on which, needless to say,they must be scrupulously honest. If you're not sure whether you or your husband should give blood have a looky here

https://secure.blood.co.uk/c11_cant.asp