Giving blood - where to go and some frustrations

[malumbu]

We should all donate unless there are health/medical reasons not to.

I am becoming increasingly frustrated with the availability of sessions and some massive delays when I get there due to staff shortages. It this a trend and is there a shortage of staff and capability?

Are there good places to donate locally? Last time was a long cycle in the rain, to find a long wait. I've shared my frustrations with NHS Blood. I wont sign up to the website as I have too many user IDs and passwords, but they will no longer share locations and dates without logging in.

[cornelia]

I go to Denmark Hill - best clinic I've been to. The blood service tends to send me the date of the next session by email; perhaps you could ask for this?

[solar]

I've been a blood donor for a long time. I agree with you and I've made the same comment. When I first started going you could just turn up to a session and queue, but now they expect you to make an appointment online. The sessions get booked up weeks or months in advance which I am sure must put some people off. I usually try to get a cancellation appointment by checking the website regularly. Also they have scrapped their mobile vans so most sessions are held in church halls.

For information the nearest locations to SE22 are Rye Lane chapel, The salvation army training centre at Denmark Hill and St. Faiths church hall Dulwich. There are many other places if you don't mind travelling.

If you work in the West End, there is a permanent centre near Oxford Street which is open 6 days a week and it's very easy to get an appointment, but I appreciate this isn't likely to be convenient for most people in SE22.

However do please try to give blood if you are able.

[siousxiesue]

If you're O neg type they let you join any session, as it's the most versatile in terms of matching.

[keano77]

I don?t understand why they don?t use Dulwich hospital with all the empty rooms. They could deal with 10 times more people than St Faiths, for example, using those reclinable seats.

[cella]

I donate 3 times a year as I'm O neg. I think it's reasonable surely to book up as they need to manage things. Just book via the Blood Doning website - there are so many local sites - once you go you can usually book up the next session.

[malumbu]

I used to alternate between two equally convenient locations in Victoria, booking the next session whilst there. Once it was so busy/short staffed that they locked the doors. Another time I came in between Xmas and New Year when they made an appeal to find that again due to short staff they'd closed one of the sessions.

I missed a few in recent times due to some medication, and overseas travel, and have never got back into sync. They've now stopped alerting me of forthcoming sessions.

Very different to my early sessions when they'd come to work and I'd queue with literally 100s.

I've booked in September so will hopefully get back into their system.

[se22cat]

Will they tell you what blood type you are if you start giving blood? Last time I asked about it, Kings charge something like ?20 to find out.

[malumbu]

Yes, and they give you key ring and card with it on it too. And biscuits, crisps and a drink. And a lie down. And a sticker saying you have been a hero that you can wear all day. And after giving blood alcohol has a quicker impact so you can save money if you want to go and get drunk. No nice savoury crackers any more though. Otherwise what's not to like?

I can never remember my blood group - A RH +

[heartblock]

The blood donor service (NHS blood and transplant) sells donated blood to NHS Trusts, all part of the internal market, so it has to be able to fund itself within the budget given by the DOH. Walk in clinics are expensive and seen as inefficient, the NHS spend about 300 million a year buying blood products, so the NHSBT is tasked with reducing the cost of each unit.

Personally for me the internal market in the NHS just didn?t work and patients, donors, health professionals all think walk in is great and convenient, but it does come with a cost.

[BrandNewGuy]

I'm AB Rh+ so they like me ? 3/4% of the population. And yes, it's become frustrating finding venues to give blood. I always used the temporary truck near London Bridge off Southwark St, which was handy for work, but all the trucks have been withdrawn I believe. Now use one of the City venues, but it's very hit and miss as to when they have slots available.

[se22cat]

Thanks for the info malambu, I was tempted by the keyring, but the sticker and crisps have got me sold!

My dad gave blood throughout his adult life, I guess because he once had a nasty accident and almost lost a leg (run over by a tram) and so I figure he was always grateful for the blood he must have received.

[LJC56]

I have found the phone helpline useful for finding slots. Last time, having found no bookable slots available, once the call centre person checked my blood group (O+) she asked me if I would go to the walk in centre in the West end. Got there at 8.30, seen within 15 minutes, at work by 10.15. It?s only three times a year, so that?s what I will do in future.

[Penguinpost]

Se22cat - you can?t give blood if you had received a blood donation. Just incase you are in that position.

[rendelharris]

Penguinpost Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> Se22cat - you can?t give blood if you had received

> a blood donation. Just incase you are in that

> position.

Just to add, you can if the transfusion was pre-1980 (it's an anti-CJD measure).

[se22cat]

Ah it was my dad who had the transfusion, and that would have been in the 50s, luckily I've never had to have one.

[Asset]

I use the app to find and book local donation sessions. It can be quite far in advance to book a local one but it's not a big problem. I've never had to wait too long either but I've only done it 5 times so far.

There is a permanent donation centre in Soho I think.

[Asset]

Actually, there is a session at St Faith's on Red Post Hill on 25th June. I'm booked in.

[Passiflora]

I've donated my blood at St Faith's before and have the card to prove it (I live just across the road) but like Malumbu it seems everything is on-line now! St Faith's was always very busy and I used to have phone calls saying that Greenwich is my nearest blood donor session so I gave up after a few years! I live just across the road from St Faith's but didn't know they had a blood donor session on the 25th.