Blood-y annoying!
By Mrs_Davies | Thursday, May 19, 2011, 13:13
As we all know, donating blood is one of the most amazing gifts you can give, and you never know when you, or someone you love, might need it.
My husband and I both recently signed up to be blood donors after a family member underwent a blood transfusion, made possible entirely by the generosity of donors. Last week we received a letter inviting us to make our first donation. I discovered that I am unable to at the moment as I am 20 weeks pregnant, but my husband was still keen to donate with my father in law and called to make an appointment. We were really disappointed to be told that Nailsea is fully booked for the next donor session and he wasn't offered any alternative. At a time when blood stocks need to be kept high I would have hoped that if demand for the Nailsea session is high that they might make more arrangements although we think it is wonderful that the generosity of Nailsea people is such that the session is fully booked.
As I type, our phones have beeped with a text- "we need you to give blood, please call us!"
Ahhhhhh, please can we have more donation sessions in Nailsea?!
Comments
Wow- thank you very much for looking into this for us. It is just such a shame that no other options were given for perhaps donating elsewhere, etc. We need to hang onto our willing donors!
By Mrs_Davies at 15:09 on 20/05/11
ReportIone Douglas, of Dr Fox's parliamentary office, confirmed today that our MP has written asking for an explanation of Sarah's treatment. Mrs Douglas said: "We have written to the Minister concerned, Anne Milton at the Departement of Health. She would rather we did that, rather than directly to the Blood Donor Service. They will investigate and come back. It will take a few weeks, I am afraid." Watch this space!
By Prue_Reid at 13:15 on 20/05/11
ReportNailsea People think this is outrageous too. We asked North Somerset MP and Secretary of State for Defence Liam Fox to comment. This is what the former Nailsea GP said: "When members of the public are willing to give their blood to help others it is ridiculous that bureaucracy stands in their way. When this blood could be used to potentially save lives it makes the lack of a donor facility even more unacceptable. I will be writing to the Blood Transfusion Service to try and get this sorted for the future." We will keep you posted.
By Prue_Reid at 16:07 on 19/05/11
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