Blood donor service efficiency?

IanH
IanH Forum Participant Posts: 4,708
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edited March 2016 in General Chat #1

Went to give blood this morning - it would have been my 71st donation.

As all the dates at our local centre clashed with holidays etc I undertook to travel about 10 miles each way to another town.

When I arrived for my appontment I was greated with "we're running at least half an hour behind". Based on previous experience (and the size of the queue) I'm quite sure this would have been at least an hour.

I'm afraid I didn't wait.

Last time I went, I'd booked the first appointment of the day, hoping to avoid too much of a wait, but even then I arrived to be told "we're running late" - what??

I really do think they should have more consideration for people and sort themselves out.

Comments

  • EmilysDad
    EmilysDad Forum Participant Posts: 8,973
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    edited March 2016 #2

    I think all of us blood donors have had the same at some point. Last time I donated I drove miles away as all local appointments were fully booked or I was working

  • tombar
    tombar Forum Participant Posts: 408
    edited March 2016 #3

    Never had to make an appointment to give blood.  You just turn up.

  • IanH
    IanH Forum Participant Posts: 4,708
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    edited March 2016 #4

    Never had to make an appointment to give blood.  You just turn up.

    And wait well over an hour before even starting?

  • EmilysDad
    EmilysDad Forum Participant Posts: 8,973
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    edited March 2016 #5

    Never had to make an appointment to give blood.  You just turn up.

    You've been very fortunate. As Ian suggests, the wait would be horrendous 

  • huskydog
    huskydog Club Member Posts: 5,460 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    edited March 2016 #6

    but I bet the people waiting to recieve your blood don't see it that way ......

  • IanH
    IanH Forum Participant Posts: 4,708
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    edited March 2016 #7

    but I bet the people waiting to recieve your blood don't see it that way ......

    I don't doubt it......but sometimes you just have to make a point or things never improve........

  • Cornersteady
    Cornersteady Club Member Posts: 14,427 ✭✭✭
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    edited March 2016 #8

    well lets hope that when any of us need blood (God forbid) someone will have waited around and thought about the possible outcome of not donating?

  • Cornersteady
    Cornersteady Club Member Posts: 14,427 ✭✭✭
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    edited March 2016 #9

    but I bet the people waiting to recieve your blood don't see it that way ......

    I don't doubt it......but sometimes you just have to make a point or things never improve........

    well lets hope nobody dies before your stance makes an improvementUndecided 

  • tombar
    tombar Forum Participant Posts: 408
    edited March 2016 #10

    Never had to make an appointment to give blood.  You just turn up.

    And wait well over an hour before even starting?

    No. I used to go in my lunch-hour and I was back in time

  • brue
    brue Forum Participant Posts: 21,176 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    edited March 2016 #11

    I expect Easter Monday was a handy day for people who are usually at work to use for blood donations, no wonder it was busy.

  • Pippah45
    Pippah45 Forum Participant Posts: 2,452
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    edited March 2016 #12

    The appointment system seems to work round here - except they lost me in the system and I thought it was just walk in as I had done before!  Now they have decided that I might be at risk donating - despite my doctor saying its ok to keep going!  I am really
    off them - as I liked doing my bit and also I believe it is good for my health to donate
    Undecided

  • Navigateur
    Navigateur Club Member Posts: 3,880 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    edited March 2016 #13

    The service in Scotland does not use appointments but sometimes there is a bit of a wait at the mobile centres they use. Just sit in the Land Rover and do paperwork.

    They used to stop accepting donations at age 70 but now continue to accept you as long as you don't miss a whole 18 months (and nothing else excludes you).

  • Oneputt
    Oneputt Club Member Posts: 9,144 ✭✭✭
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    edited March 2016 #14

    Won't take mine due to HBP.  It's a great thing in the UK, most other countries you get paid for giving.  Had to give blood to get my driving license in Saudi Arabia!

  • EasyT
    EasyT Forum Participant Posts: 16,194
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    edited March 2016 #15

    My wife used to give blood regularly when she was alive. Sometimes she would receive a phone call to donate as she was one of the rarer groups. If there was no car available they would send one to pick her up and return her home. No idea what it is like
    now as my wife has been dead for 20 years. I used to give blood as well. I hated it Worried

    I stopped donating at 40 a few years before my wifes death as they would no longer take my blood following surgery and radiotherapy. To be honest it was a relief. I know. What a wimp.

  • EmilysDad
    EmilysDad Forum Participant Posts: 8,973
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    edited March 2016 #16

     ...... What a wimp.

    Agreed! Innocent

    Needle in arm, wait 10/15 mins, remove needle ... proceeed to tea/coffee & biscuits ..... job jobbed! Cool

  • Cornersteady
    Cornersteady Club Member Posts: 14,427 ✭✭✭
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    edited March 2016 #17

    a pint - that's nearly an armful

  • EasyT
    EasyT Forum Participant Posts: 16,194
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    edited March 2016 #18

    Yep there were always more wimmin than fellas no matter where and when it was.

  • Whittakerr
    Whittakerr Club Member Posts: 3,472 ✭✭✭✭
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    edited March 2016 #19

    A couple of donations ago I made my way to the tea and biscuits table, sat down and waited for my cuppa, next thing I knew I was waking up on a bed surrounded by curtains and nurses.Surprised

    I had passed out without any indication it was going to happen. They kept me there for an age as I was on my own and also driving. First time that has happened, I was fine last time.

  • Cornersteady
    Cornersteady Club Member Posts: 14,427 ✭✭✭
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    edited March 2016 #20

    I must admit that during my first donation: a) I only went along to impress the girl I was going out with at the time and b) I felt very dizzy afterwards and had to have extra resting time and checked over by a nurse. So it didn't really go according to
    plan.Undecided

  • EasyT
    EasyT Forum Participant Posts: 16,194
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    edited March 2016 #21

    I started donating when I was about 30 as I often took my wife to a session and it would have been churlish to sit and have a cuppa whilst my wife gave blood. Mine was a common type unlike my wife's. I had to stop when I was 40 following cancer treatment.

  • EmilysDad
    EmilysDad Forum Participant Posts: 8,973
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    edited March 2016 #22

    First donation was at HMS Fisgard (no longer in existance but was across the road from Navy School's HMS Raliegh) at the age of 18 and have given frequently in between ....a round 60-odd donations later. My A rh -ve is always in demand Cool

  • IanH
    IanH Forum Participant Posts: 4,708
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    edited March 2016 #23

    To those making sarcastic comments about people dying because I didn't wait......I'd just like to point out that I've already donated 70 times, including in December and will be going again in July......hardly selfish (but there again, some will jump at any excuse to have a dig - but please carry on if it makes you feel better).

  • Cornersteady
    Cornersteady Club Member Posts: 14,427 ✭✭✭
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    edited March 2016 #24

    To those making sarcastic comments about people dying because I didn't wait......I'd just like to point out that I've already donated 70 times, including in December and will be going again in July......hardly selfish (but there again, some will jump at
    any excuse to have a dig - but please carry on if it makes you feel better).

    at the end of the day Ian, you couldn't be bothered to wait one hour because you couldn't be seen straight away.

    Then you say you're making a point by leaving and not donating so that things improve? Will the NHS be trembling this morning as you didn't give blood, what point are you trying to make? It's not like you're keeping revenue away from a comapany,  What would
    happen if everyone acted like you did? Who will ultimately lose out?

     

  • IanH
    IanH Forum Participant Posts: 4,708
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    edited March 2016 #25

    Ahh well, it'll give you something else to put in your stalking notebook, won't it?
    Wink

    I'm content that I give more often than most people have.......

  • Cornersteady
    Cornersteady Club Member Posts: 14,427 ✭✭✭
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    edited March 2016 #26

    SmileAhh well, it'll give you something else to put in your stalking notebook, won't it?

    I'm content that I give more often than most people have.......

    Don't be silly I don't have a book - its a 189 page word document.

    You do give more than anyone I have known or heard about.

    BTW mine is only used for 'research' purposes, no the club is not trying to clone me!

  • IanH
    IanH Forum Participant Posts: 4,708
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    edited March 2016 #27

     

    BTW mine is only used for 'research' purposes, no the club is not trying to clone me!

    Well, I don't expect they get many donations that are green......

  • Cornersteady
    Cornersteady Club Member Posts: 14,427 ✭✭✭
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    edited March 2016 #28

     

    BTW mine is only used for 'research' purposes, no the club is not trying to clone me!

    Well, I don't expect they get many donations that are green......

    You have just given me the best compliment ever! You think I'm  a Vulcan! I always thought you're a fellow ST fan

    Live long and prosper

     

    Kirk or Picard?

  • huskydog
    huskydog Club Member Posts: 5,460 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    edited March 2016 #29

    for a moment ,i thought is read ...kirk or pilchardEmbarassed

  • cyberyacht
    cyberyacht Forum Participant Posts: 10,218
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    edited March 2016 #30

    Giving blood is something I've always felt guilty about but I'm too squeamish about needles. A bit hypocritical really as doubtless I'd be happy to be a recipient if the need arose.

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