Our reporter Mirek gives blood after NHS warns of falling vital stocks
The NHS has issued an urgent plea for blood donors as four bank holidays in just six weeks threaten to impact vital supplies.
The healthcare provider has warned it needs to fill 50,000 appointments to avoid a ‘spring slump’ in blood stocks, which only have a 35-day shelf life.
But newburytoday thought rather than just telling readers to give blood, it would send a reporter – me – to try and record the process for themselves.
Hospitals across England need more than 5,000 blood donations every day to treat patients suffering from traumatic injuries, cancer treatments, sickle cell and childbirth.
Inspired by Newburian Sybil Marsh’s impressive 100+ pints donation record, I registered to become a donor online and booked an appointment.
Everybody’s experience is different. But I found the whole process quick, painless and rewarding.
READ MORE: Newbury woman awarded for donating 100 pints of blood – and wants others to join
You don’t need to go to hospital to donate. There are numerous pop-up donor centres throughout Berkshire and North Hampshire. I donated at The Fieldgate Centre in Kingsclere.
On arrival, I was checked in and asked to fill in a short health questionnaire in the waiting area.
People who do not meet the eligibility criteria may be unable to donate.
For example, you cannot donate blood if you are a hepatitis B or C carrier or are HIV positive.
Gay men who have had the same partner for three months or more can give blood thanks to eligibility rules updated in 2021.
But, regardless of gender, you must wait three months to donate if you have had anal sex with a new or multiple partners in the past three months.
I was then called for a private health screening, where I was asked to confirm my personal details, travel history over the past 12 months and whether I had been showing any kind of symptoms.
(Make sure to note the names of any prescribed medications you are taking beforehand.)
My index finger was pricked for a blood sample to test my haemoglobin levels to detect any iron deficiency.
A healthy level is above 125g/l for women and 135g/l for men. Mine was 139g/l.
Sometimes another test is needed to give a more accurate measurement.
Your body loses a lot of iron when you give blood, so it’s important you help boost your levels with a well-balanced diet (red meats, leafy veg, brown rice, wholemeal breads).
Once that was done, it was time to donate. I joined the rows of adults of various ages already giving blood.
A nurse seated me on a reclining chair, sterilised my right arm and inserted the needle. I felt a short, sharp prick and then nothing, besides some mild numbness.
Some people may feel lightheaded or faint, so should tell a member of staff.
A tube ran down from my arm into a bag, where my blood was collected and weighed.
It stopped when it reached 470ml (just under a pint). The process lasted 10 minutes.
Some people passed the time reading or scrolling through their phones. I made (illegible) recordings in my notebook with my left hand.
The needle was then removed and a sterile dressing applied to my arm. And that was it! Well, almost.
It’s recommended you spend at least 15 minutes resting at the drink and snacks table which (next to saving lives) was my favourite part.
Keep your plaster on for six hours and avoid hot baths, strenuous activity and alcohol for at least 24 hours.
Call 0300 123 23 23 if you become unwell within two weeks after your donation.
At the end of the day, all donations were transported to a blood centre near Reading to be tested before being used in hospitals.
England remains on amber alert for low stocks of O negative and O positive blood.
READ MORE: Air Ambulance makes urgent call for blood donors amid national shortage
A positive and RO blood types are also needed, as are more donors of black heritage to help patients with sickle cell who need ethnically matched blood.
Visit www.blood.co.uk/who-can-give-blood/ to read the full eligibility criteria and to sign up to donate.
