Why is it so hard to donate plasma in the UK?
Posted by Vaudane@reddit | AskUK | View on Reddit | 118 comments
Apparently the NHS is screaming out for donators, but theres only 3 centres, Brum, Reading, and Twickenham. What the hell is the other 80% of the country supposed to do? There are blood donation centers every couple miles but only 3 plasma centres?
KingKhram@reddit
I'm donating blood next week for the 1st time. I hate needles and I'm shitting my pants, but the bigger picture and all that
Competitive-Ad-5454@reddit
I'm not a big fan either but beyond the first initial scratch you really don't feel anything else. You'll be fine.
KingKhram@reddit
Many people have said the same thing over the years, I've had plenty of injections, but it still gives me bad anxiety and sleepless nights on the buildup
Dimac99@reddit
On the plus side, the high you get after your first donation is fantastic! It's not a physical thing, you really don't notice the blood loss and your body compensates quickly, but the knowledge that you've just contributed to saving lives in a concrete way is pretty mind-blowing.
KingKhram@reddit
This is a great answer. Thank you
YazmindaHenn@reddit
As someone who had panic attacks because of needles, nah, you just don't like them.
There's a difference between not liking something and having a phobia.
bethcano@reddit
I had a horrific needle phobia, to the point I got special treatment for my COVID jabs because I was that bad. I've donated blood three times now, and it's a really great experience! The environment is safe, the staff well-trained, and it doesn't hurt beyond the initial prick. Plus, all the snacks afterwards. But best of all, as a needle hater, you will feel an immense amount of pride in yourself for doing something amazing despite your fear.
Any_Cauliflower_6337@reddit
We also collect some plasma by separating it out from blood donations.
So if you cannot make it to a specialist centre you can just give blood normally and it could still be turned into plasma.
naranjita44@reddit
Thanks for this info. I’m A negative so universal plasma donor but my veins are not suitable for signing up to do plasma only. Glad they can get my plasma this way.
Different_Usual_6586@reddit
Oooh I'm A- too, thanks for the heads up!
Although I tried to donate blood, got 45ml, vein collapsed, had a cup of tea and biscuit, still fainted. Hopefully I'm made of tougher stuff than in my teens
GeordieJumper@reddit
AB positive is universal plasma donor. You should still donate if you can though.
naranjita44@reddit
I meant platelets, ooops
Minute_Parfait_9752@reddit
Ooh that's pretty interesting! Me too!
Accurate_Prompt_8800@reddit
For a long time (over two decades), the UK relied on imported plasma due to concerns about variant Creutzfeldt–Jakob disease.
In Feb 2021, the government lifted this ban, allowing the NHS to begin rebuilding its plasma collection infrastructure. Establishing new plasma donation centres requires lots of investment in equipment, staffing, and training. The NHS is gradually expanding its capacity, but this process takes time.
I would say if you’re unable to access a donation centre, to consider donating whole blood at a local centre. The NHS can separate plasma from whole blood donations, which still contributes to the plasma supply.
Vaudane@reddit (OP)
Fair, probably my best shout right now.
Apparently they had more centres in other places during lockdown though like Bolton and theyve disappeared
ctesibius@reddit
They may have reverted to platelet donation. The NHS says there are 25 platelet donation centres. Plasma does not seem to be a priority.
OutdoorApplause@reddit
I was going to say, I saw people donating plasma at the Manchester city centre donor centre when I was giving blood, but that was pre COVID when I went into the city to go to the office.
ctesibius@reddit
Probably platelets. The machines they had pre-COVID could be configured for plasma or platelets.
ctesibius@reddit
I'm a plasma donor. The "process takes time" only because no-one is actually getting the work done, and because centres that were active during COVID (e.g. Oxford) are no longer used for plasma
Setting up a centre is fairly quick: acquire premises (Reading uses half a floor of a redundant office building). Buy the machines, or use the older ones which were taken out of service a couple of years ago. The new ones are better, but the old ones work. Given the number of trainees I've seen coming through staff should not be the issue.
As for whole blood donation fix the servers. Every time there is a panic about low blood supplies and the advertisements go out, the app stops working because the servers have insufficient capacity, and would-be donors get put in a queue. The app literally shows that it's not going to do anything for several minutes while the user gets through the queue - and if you change to do anything else on your phone, you lose your position in the queue. I have reported this every time. What blithering incompetent thinks that this is any way to run an IT service?
Yes, I'm angry.
magammon@reddit
This is a much better answer than I could have come up with.
MrNippyNippy@reddit
When you say “The UK” I’m guessing you mean the English UK (aka not Scotland)
There’s 6 centres in Scotland
https://scotblood.co.uk/giving-blood/give-plasma/
Still part of the UK
intrepid_wombat@reddit
If it helps it's probably not an intentional display of Scotland erasure/hatred, OP may not realise blood donation is a devolved issue with separate websites.
Vaudane@reddit (OP)
I did not actually realise this at all and I'm even more frustrated now as I've specifically tried to look to see if there's any in Scotland without luck.
I guess my Google fu is bad
YazmindaHenn@reddit
I realised it the other day too as my sister was talking about donating blood but me my mum and sister are all AB+, and we can't donate plasma apparently as it could kill others, especially as we've all had children
It was then I noticed that Scotland had its own give blood website (which shows how many days worth of blood they have on hand)
evolvedmammal@reddit
You can also donate plasma at NIBTS in Belfast.
Tough-Cheetah5679@reddit
Indeed, just as there is also the Welsh Blood Service.
Spirited-Okra-9151@reddit
I think it's already been pointed out but plasma can be separated from whole blood donations and you can potentially save up to 3 people's lives with one donation of blood. I have considered donating platelets too but as an O neg donor it makes more sense for me to give blood.
glasgowgeg@reddit
There's definitely not only 3 centres. You can donate plasma in Aberdeen, Dundee, Edinburgh, Glasgow, and Inverness.
Cumulus-Crafts@reddit
It's also hard to donate blood if you have chronic conditions. I wanted to donate blood, but because I have Crohn's disease, they turned me away as they're unsure if it's spread through blood
Dannypan@reddit
Why is it so hard to donate blood? All the appointments are miles away and only available on a random Wednesday afternoon. Have a centre be open daily and I'll pop in every day to drop off a bag or two.
adamneigeroc@reddit
I went from donating once or maybe twice a year to every 3 months without fail because I moved within walking distance of a donation centre.
Soon as my 3 month wait is up I can get a next day appointment, or depending on timing it might have to be a 2 day wait because they only do evening appointments 2 nights a week or something.
tfn105@reddit
If you have the Give Blood app, you can book your next donation the same day you donate. That’s how I keep tabs on it all.
January will be my 100th donation
adamneigeroc@reddit
Congratulations!
My schedule is too changeable to plan that far ahead, and as availability is so good I don’t need to worry about it.
They’re also getting quite pushy on the phone so they’ll ‘remind me’ if I leave it too long
Curious-Term9483@reddit
I always book my next session while eating my club biscuit at the little table before I leave. I know I have done it that way. 🤣. And as I am booking the appointment 4 months in advance rather than last minute, there are appointments to book. (Obviously important to remember to go, or cancel if something crops up and you can't make it to free up the space for someone else.). Not a solution that will work for everyone but with my job I am able to predict when I am likely to be free and I mark my calendar busy for an appointment so I remember to keep myself available.
Dimac99@reddit
I haven't been able to donate for quite a while, but in Scotland they have or used to have Tunnocks teacakes. I have absolutely no idea why we never just bought them in our house, they were always my luxury reward for donating.
(I have since realised I am allowed to buy and eat them just because I want to!)
No_Dana_Only_Zuul@reddit
I do this with Club biscuits. I'd never dream of actually having them in the house!
No_Dana_Only_Zuul@reddit
I do this with Club biscuits. I'd never dream of actually having them in the house!
TooLittleGravitas@reddit
I didn't realise you could donate that often. I'll have to up my game.
Willowx@reddit
It's every 12 weeks for men and 16 weeks for women.
Dimac99@reddit
In Scotland it's 12 weeks for women as well as men, though obviously all donors are tested to check their iron levels are okay first.
Soggy-Man2886@reddit
Of course your haemoglobin levels might not recover fully in that time, so I can only donate twice yearly - and that's with taking iron supplements.
mysp2m2cc0unt@reddit
Good egg. I should go.
Visible_Nothing_9616@reddit
I try and donate every so often, but I haven't managed to for years! I've just checked again, and in my area it's showing one donation centre available within the next 6 months. It is 30 minutes drive away, only available one day in February and there's 6 available slots.... and they wonder why people don't give blood.
StardustOasis@reddit
And then they can cancel your appointment last minute as well.
bethcano@reddit
I found it difficult to get a near slot for the first appointment. However, after my first, I booked immediately for my next in 4 months, and that was very easy to do. I think once you get into a rhythm, it is much less random regarding availability. I can always pick the same day and time.
Tuarangi@reddit
They can't make centres everywhere as it's cost prohibitive, looking at posts suggesting you're near Palmers Green area, the Edgware one is within 10 miles an is open Sunday to Friday with evening slots Tuesday and Thursday and it's less than 10 minutes from Burnt Oak or there are 2 hours free parking
Weird_Elephant_1583@reddit
Love the Edgware one. I used to donate blood there and there were so so so nice. Still got a "I gave blood for a custard cream" sticker collection somewhere.
We did a 16th birthday party there for one of our mates as he gave blood for the first time just after his 16th birthday. I don't think we were the cool kids lol 😂
UnusualSomewhere84@reddit
You have to be 17 to donate blood in the UK
Weird_Elephant_1583@reddit
Fuzzy memory, maybe it was 17 or maybe the rules changed since then. Not sure
UnusualSomewhere84@reddit
It’s been 17 for a very very long time, it was probably a 17th birthday and memories blur!
Gloomy_Stage@reddit
It is probably worth understanding how the donation centres are set up. Men can donate every 3 months and women 4 months. As a result most blood donation centres open for a full day (usually until 8pm) at a specific location every 4 months. This means regular donors will often attend every 4 months.
It would be easiest for you to pick your local centre and book in the next date then attend that centre every 4 months. The NHS blood app makes it really easy to book. I’m currently on my 41st donation.
Some places like Southampton General Hospital have a donation centre open daily. Talking of which, I’m pretty sure Southampton used to take plasma donations in the past.
I_AM_Squirrel_King@reddit
I literally book my next appointment as the first thing I do when I walk into the centre to donate, check in, book my next one, then donate. I’ve never had an issue. My donation centre is open everyday except Saturdays.
Esoteric_Prurience@reddit
There might be a centre at your local big hospital. I live in Cambridge and they have a drop-in donation service, including plasma donation.
Vaudane@reddit (OP)
Well that's worth a check! Wonder why they don't advertise that
novalia89@reddit
You also have to wait about 45 minutes after your allocated time slot for them to actually do it. You are often there well over an hour in the end!
UnusualSomewhere84@reddit
Oh no a whole hour a few times a year to save someone's life!
novalia89@reddit
You may have plenty of time, but other people don’t.
UnusualSomewhere84@reddit
Gosh you must be very important!
AdThat328@reddit
There are centres specifically for it that are open every day. It's a shame if you don't live near one (I have to walk about 45-50 mins) but they exist.
boojes@reddit
They don't have the staff to run them.
RaccoonNo5539@reddit
I've lived in 4 different locations since I've been donating blood in the last 10 years and booking a donation in is super easy. The donation sites aren't a crazy distance away, albeit I do drive and times range from am - late pm.
quicksilverjack@reddit
While we're talking about blood donation. Can someone tell me while people who've survived a stroke can't donate?
ForsakenRoom@reddit
It's because the medication often prescribed after a stroke (anticoagulant and antiplatelet) can increase the risk of significant bleeds during a donation.
UnusualSomewhere84@reddit
That's one reason, but you're banned for life after a stroke even if you're no longer on any blood thinners.
UnusualSomewhere84@reddit
Its too much of a risk for the donor, its not that their blood isn't safe.
snarkycrumpet@reddit
thank you all for donating. my family member has leukemia and is hoovering up blood, platelets and plasma like crazy. I appreciate every donation so much
yourefunny@reddit
Fucking Macmillan refused me when I was at uni because they thought I was obese! I was playing high level rugby and the fittest I have been. Never donated to them since!!!
chelseafailsatlife@reddit
Why were you talking to Macmillan about bone marrow? 🤔
UnusualSomewhere84@reddit
Macmillan are nothing to do with blood donation, and being obese is not a barrier, being underweight can be though,
yourefunny@reddit
Shit I meant bone marrow ha!! Sorry.
UnusualSomewhere84@reddit
They don’t do that either
blloomfield@reddit
How much money do you get for donating blood?
redmagor@reddit
In the United Kingdom, there are no incentives for donating blood or plasma.
In some countries, donors receive a full health panel sent via email or post for their records as a reward; other countries pay cash. However, the NHS offers no incentives.
deep1986@reddit
We used to get a nifty little key ring with your blood type, mine broke and turns out they don't do them anymore.
redmagor@reddit
I find that form of compensation somewhat meagre, if not childish. People invest time and, literally, blood in donating.
At the very least, a document detailing a full health check could be shared with the donor, given that the blood is already screened for a number of conditions. They could add a few more parameters and perform a comprehensive test to provide feedback to patients, thus enabling some degree of regular, preventative monitoring through blood donation efforts.
If, incidentally, someone has diabetes, high cholesterol, hepatitis, low platelet count, and so forth, they would discover it without initially involving GP surgeries.
chelseafailsatlife@reddit
Why would you want compensation? You're donating blood to help other people not yourself.
deep1986@reddit
They do checks.
A few years ago I donated, they contacted me a few days later and asked me to get an emergency blood test done from the GP as the white blood cell counts were high and it could be leukemia.
redmagor@reddit
Of course they do; I am aware.
I am suggesting that, by default, they could offer donors at least a full health panel as a form of reward for their donation. So, donors would have an incentive to donate blood, given that they receive a free and regular full blood panel.
If I contact my GP surgery to request the same, on the other hand, I am asked why I want it, why I need it, and am humiliated by a receptionist for simply wanting to keep my health under control.
The blood test reward system could compensate for that hindrance.
deep1986@reddit
That's a huge ask for them and I'm happy just to donate for no real reward.
redmagor@reddit
Some developed countries do offer a form of compensation. How do they manage this? I thought the NHS was among the best in the world. It is not as if one is asking for a gold ingot for every drop of blood; rather, it is a request for the NHS to provide healthcare monitoring in return for donations. Are they not struggling for blood and plasma?
deep1986@reddit
It's chronically underfunded and incredibly inefficient. I don't think many people say it's the best in the world, the concept is.
blloomfield@reddit
Huh, that’s really interesting. Where I’m from you get paid quite a lot, like the equivalent of £80, and you get to take a whole day off work. Yet almost nobody wants to donate blood :))
redmagor@reddit
I would donate if they compensated me with a day off work, a full health panel, or money.
OptimisticTrainwreck@reddit
Given the money for blood somewhat increases the chances of dodgy blood it's free bar the sticker or biscuits you might get.
Vaudane@reddit (OP)
Nout, it's a donation.
Also something about the WHO wants donations to be unpaid across the world
willcodefordonuts@reddit
Any kind of blood donation etc is pretty badly run. I want to go with my wife yet when I try book a slot there’s loads, when she tries to book there’s none at the same location - this is every time, the system is just buggy.
They are in need of blood yet the slots to donate near me are like once a month. So not always convenient.
The people when you’re there are great, it’s just the stuff before that’s annoying and inconvenient
ekobeko@reddit
They’re all pretty London centric too. If I want to donate plasma it’s a 4 hour round trip plus the time to donate at the nearest centre, and are they gonna cover the cost of travel there?
OptimisticTrainwreck@reddit
If you donate blood you're still donating plasma
mysp2m2cc0unt@reddit
My immune system is shit. Would giving plasma weaken it further?
ShuggaShuggaa@reddit
u will most likely be denied from donating, i had stuffed nose and they turned me down
Tuarangi@reddit
There are plenty of medical conditions preventing you from donating, you could check the advice on the donation site, it may be that you cannot donate if you have a medical condition. You cannot donate if you have been ill in the previous couple of weeks as it is
PumpkinJambo@reddit
I donate plasma every four weeks the blood donor centre in Edinburgh. They were specifically looking for people with B+ blood type earlier this year but I assume they’ll accept others if you ask. Their number is 0131 314 5717 if that helps.
Vaudane@reddit (OP)
Good info, thanks
hendo111111@reddit
I gave platelets and plasma at the donor centre in Gloucester for years. If the centre can take platelets, check if they can also take plasma.
spicyzsurviving@reddit
im assuming it's the same problem that lies at the heart of most of our issues; lack of funding directed towards it.
Sparkle_croissant@reddit
Thank you to all those who do donate blood products. Because of you, I am alive and able to raise my daughter.
CraftyCat65@reddit
How weird. I used to donate plasma at my local blood donation centre.
Granted that was years ago (cancer and a blood transfusion mean I'm not eligible any more) but I wonder when that changed, and why? 🤔🤷♀️
sarahc13289@reddit
My ex used to donate plasma at the blood donation centre in Leeds. Again, this was years ago.
leonidas182@reddit
Ditto, about 6/7 years back I’d go give plasma in Luton.
CraftyCat65@reddit
Snap!
seven-cents@reddit
Try donating platelets. It's hard on your body, and if you're "unlucky" enough to get matched with a unique cancer recipient you're tied in for years.
It's hard, and heart breaking if they die.
Never again.
UnusualSomewhere84@reddit
Platelet donors don't know who their donations go to anymore than blood donors do.
seven-cents@reddit
You're wrong. I knew exactly who my matched donor was. It was a unique match, and I kept her alive for two years. I met her family too before she died.
They requested to meet me, and I agreed.
UnusualSomewhere84@reddit
That seems highly unlikely and completely contrary to all the rules around donation.
seven-cents@reddit
Matched donor, request. Call me a liar. Cool
UnusualSomewhere84@reddit
In the UK? No.
seven-cents@reddit
It's ok if you don't believe that people can communicate and engage beyond the rules
UnusualSomewhere84@reddit
No I don't.
seven-cents@reddit
Sorry to tell you that you're wrong
WiseBelt8935@reddit
we should do as the yanks do and let us sell it
TheNorthernBaron@reddit
I donate at Newcastle. It's been a breeze every time I've been.
Snoo57829@reddit
that's not accurate - there are more than that - stoke is my closest,
Because plasma takes more time it's done in dedicated centres not the mobile donor clinics. Signups are usually full in the other centres often start off by taking a regular donor and "upgrading" them on a plasma trial.
Durzo_Blintt@reddit
The nearest one to me is about 2-3 hours drive, each way. Yeah I'm gonna do that for sure.
Ronsona@reddit
Ah, I was just going to say I have an old Panasonic 46' one in the garage if anyone wants it, but think I am on the wrong track...
Tuarangi@reddit
The equipment for donating plasma is a lot more expensive and time consuming (it's usually 30-40 minutes for me), it's simply not practical to have so many centres - the Birmingham one only has about 12 machines as it is
There are also only 25 major blood donation venues, they may have pop-up ones but the process is a lot simpler and quicker (I have done both) plus less tech as you're basically just draining blood, not filtering the plasma out
geeered@reddit
There are very few blood donation centres where you can easily get an appointment.
Spattzzzz@reddit
Yep, used to give blood regularly when they had a session in the local community centre, now you have to drive into the city which costs a fortune and pay to park if you can find a space so had to give it up.
Crazy.
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