Blood donor service efficiency?

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

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).

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!

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 

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.

 ...... What a wimp.

Agreed! 

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

a pint - that's nearly an armful

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

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.

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.

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.

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.