Donating blood- Minimal effort, maximum difference

It’s a bit itchy, to be fair – the plaster, I mean – but otherwise it doesn’t stop me from having a great night’s sleep and more than that, perhaps my slumber is even aided and abetted by the knowledge that I done some small amount of good today.

It’s Monday and the Northern Ireland Blood Transfusion Service are in town and for the first time in almost a decade, I tagged along to see if they required any of my 1976 Vintage De Vlin. It turns out that they did and more than that, they were more than appreciative of my attendance.

As you may or may not have noticed, NIBTS have reported that donations have fallen by a third in the New Year. And as you may or may not have guessed, Covid is to blame.

Whilst previously in our pre-pandemic Utopia (that’s what it feels like sometimes) the service had aimed to have at least five days’ worth of stock of each blood group but over the past month they have been down to less than two days stock of certain types.

“Even the donors that have booked, we have experienced a high number of cancellations and people not showing up,” Matt Gillespie, supply chain and testing manager with NIBTS explained.

“When we’ve looked into this, it’s because people are either positive, they’ve been in contact with people who are positive, or other Covid-related reasons why they’re staying away.”

On Monday, with Matt’s words ringing in my ear, I was once again surprised (and pleasantly so) at how simple and easy the process of giving blood actually is.

Book a slot. Turn up. Fill in health questionnaire. Recline on bed. Chat to affable nurse. In goes the needle. Bob’s your father’s brother.

Altogether, it took less than ten minutes for my pint of the 1976 vintage to flow out and into the bag you can see in the picture. After that (with yet more chat with Gemma the friendly nurse, who, as it turns out, lives just around the corner from me) all I had to do was relax for ten minutes more before tucking into a Kitkat and sampling some complimentary dilutin juice before thanking one and all and taking my leave. I was in and out in less than an hour.

“You donated on Monday so our blood will be in the bank ready to be issued by Wednesday at 5pm,” Matt continued. “The likelihood, is it’ll be used in the first two or three weeks.”

He further explains that it isn’t just people who are involved in accidents who require blood transfusions. Surgery patients and people in intensive care are just two examples of those who need a helping hand. Some even rely on transfusions on a regular basis to keep them going.

Thankfully, I’ve never required a transfusion myself although it’s nice to know that if that day ever dawns, at least I’ve helped a few others before needing help myself. And for the amount of effort involved, it’s really a no-brainer.

Later on Monday evening as I’m sitting up in front of the TV picking at my itchy plaster, I wonder who’ll become a recipient of my own special vintage. I wonder if they’ll enjoy it as much as I did. And I wonder if it’ll actually make a difference between someone living and someone… well, it doesn’t bear thinking about.

All I know is, for the potential difference I can make by parting with a pint, it won’t be almost a decade before I’m back for another Kitkat and some more dilutin.

For more information on donating blood log onto www.nibts.hscni.net Here you can register to donate and check where and when the next clinic is taking place near you. Locally, clinics are being held tomorrow (January 21) at the The Torrent Complex, Donaghmore and Tuesday coming (January 25) at the Newtownstewart, Centre 2000. Also, it’s worth noting that in these pandemic times you have to book a slot before turning up.