Do they want it, or don't they?
By Fleur
@Fleura (15098)
United Kingdom
April 22, 2021 3:02am CST
I’ve been a regular blood donor for about 30 years. I used to go to the regional donor centre because I worked not far away, and for a while afterwards because I was part of a trial which could only be carried out there.
But now it’s more difficult to get there - it’s at least 40 minutes to cycle each way, while driving also takes an age because although it’s quicker to get there, and there are dedicated parking spaces for donors, it’s impossible to get to the donor spaces without queueing with all the other hospital traffic so it can take 15 to 20 minutes just to get in to park! I have missed appointments in the past because of this.
So nowadays I try to go to one of the local ‘pop-up’ sessions instead, which are easier to cycle or drive to. Last spring I had an appointment arranged, but of course then Covid-19 hit, and it was cancelled. I made another for August, and again it was cancelled and re-arranged for November.
That one was cancelled the day before. Almost immediately afterwards I got an email saying how blood donations were really needed! Then I got a telephone call to arrange a new appointment but after the operator looked around all ‘local’ sessions they were all many miles away or fully booked for months.
So in the end I was forced to book at the regional centre, and even that was not until mid April.
Yesterday the date finally arrived, which I had carefully written in my diary.
Decided to drive so I could combine with a trip to pick up some plumbing supplies on the way home. Spent an irritating 15 minutes getting into the car park, only to be told that they had no record of my appointment. Not that day, or any other day. And no appointments available.
Honestly, I’m trying to help, anyone would think they were doing me a favour! I give up.
All rights reserved. © Text copyright Fleur 2021. Image by Arek Socha from Pixabay
12 people like this
11 responses
@DaddyEvil (39059)
• United States
22 Apr
The same things have been happening here. I'm a universal blood donor so get emails all the time asking me to donate. I make appointments but they get cancelled. When I finally ask why they kept cancelling them I was told I was the one cancelling the appointments, which made absolutely no sense. I explained that I arrived each time only to be turned away. The nurse I was speaking with told me my appointments were kept open until I never showed up. I told her I wasn't going to fight with people to get in there, so they needed to figure out what was happening or they could stop emailing me. I have an appointment tomorrow. I'll see what happens.
4 people like this
@Fleura (15098)
• United Kingdom
22 Apr
Reminds me of when we were expecting Big One. I went to my first ultrasound scan appointment and my partner came with me. When we checked in they said we'd cancelled the appointment. Obviously I said we hadn't - why would we cancel it and then show up? Then they said 'Maybe some family member cancelled it'. I was speechless. We hadn't told a soul, not any friends, not our parents, no-one. Were they trying to suggest they had told someone else who could then have cancelled the appointment on our behalf? I was getting quite angry so they quickly said they could fit us in and no more was said - but I was sorry afterwards that I didn't get to the bottom of it.
2 people like this
@DaddyEvil (39059)
• United States
22 Apr
@Fleura I wouldn't have dropped it.
Once, our electricity was cut off. When my wife called and asked what happened, they said I had shut it off. My wife handed me the phone and I asked why I'd shut off my own electricity. The receptionist said she had no idea but if I wanted it turned back on, they'd do that but charge me a fee for turning it back on. Of course, I refused to pay any fee but insisted they turn it back on anyway. They finally did, but both my wife and I were very upset about it.
2 people like this
@m_audrey6788 (41999)
• Germany
22 Apr
When I was still working. I used to donate blood because they have activities like that but now I can`t. I have health issues that can`t anymore possible to donate 
3 people like this
@BelleStarr (59506)
• United States
22 Apr
Yes I understand sometimes they just make it too hard to volunteer. Hopefully something will come up once the pandemic is over.
2 people like this
@BelleStarr (59506)
• United States
22 Apr
@Fleura They stopped taking my blood because I have been to Europe too many times, mad cow disease worries lol seemed pretty dumb reason to me!!
1 person likes this
@Fleura (15098)
• United Kingdom
22 Apr
@BelleStarr That seems to have completely disappeared now. It's funny that it was such a big thing, and now it's just vanished, people born in the last 20-odd years have never even heard of it!
1 person likes this
@MALUSE (65546)
• Germany
22 Apr
@Fleura Thank you for your friendly words! I was even a helper once when I was still a schoolgirl when the Red Cross organised a blood donating session (or whatever this is called) in our town. There is a school for further education where sailors go to who want to become captains or pilots. It was interesting to see how these men who had already travelled the world behaved when they donated blood. You could think that their end was near!
1 person likes this
@Dena91 (12919)
• United States
22 Apr
It is odd that they didn't have any record of your appointment. At least you tried to give, that is important. I haven't given blood in a long time. The last 4-5 times I attempted they said that my iron was always to low which was odd because I always ate spinach and took iron pills.
2 people like this
@GardenGerty (133800)
• United States
22 Apr
I have an "in demand" type, but there is nothing nearby for a while. I could drive over an hour, but I am not sure that would be good for me at this time. I do give "power reds" or double reds which helps twice as many people. I can only give a limited number of times in a year, though.
2 people like this
