Give Blood, Save Lives: Highland and Moray head of Scottish National Blood Transfusion Service (SNBTS) says giving is a ‘good thing to do’
Only a tiny fraction of those eligible to donate blood actually do so, according to latest figures.
And the head of the Scottish National Blood Transfusion Service (SNBTS) in the north says that this is partly down to changing patterns of behaviour, with donations not yet having returned to pre-Covid levels.
Dr Sylvia Armstrong-Fisher said: “Donor behaviours have definitely changed - people are less willing to come into city centres, they want to stay more locally.”
While donation sessions at the likes of the donor centre based at Raigmore Hospital in Inverness are still a key part of getting blood from those willing to give, she says that sessions held more locally - such as in village or church halls - are often “noticeably busier”.
She says: “For some it’s the cost of fuel to get to a centralised session, for others it’s the time factor.”
But while community sessions are generally very successful, there are limits to what they can achieve.
“We have to book our donations programme a year ahead just to make sure we can secure the venues,” Dr Armstrong-Fisher says. “That means they are pretty locked in.
“Also, because at such sessions you are dealing with a relatively small group of people, you quickly come up against the fact that individual donors can only donate once every 12 weeks.
“So even where people would be willing to walk along the road to donate they’re simply not able to do that more than once every three months or so.”
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The key, then, is primarily to persuade more people to donate.
“Only three per cent of those eligible to donate between the ages of 17 - the age when you can make your first donation - and 65, the up-per limit for making a first donation, actually do so,” says Dr Armstrong-Fisher.
“Obviously we want to change that, to drive that figure up.
“In terms of catching younger ones we go out to schools to talk to those in S5 and S6 in the hope that if you can persuade them to do it even once then it simply becomes habit.
“For everyone else it’s just trying to drive home the idea that it’s a good thing to do.”
In terms of those who want to donate but have been held back by worries about what exactly is in-volved, Dr Armstrong-Fisher acknowledges the “fear of the unknown” but says people can be assured they are in very safe hands.
“All the staff at our centres and community donation sessions are very well trained and extremely empathetic, especially when it comes to first-time donors - and the fact that you are a first timer will be flagged.
“They will always take the time to explain what is happening and why at every stage and the donation process itself only takes about 15 minutes.
“An appointment as a whole in terms of taking details when you arrive and getting ready then the recuperating afterwards with juice and a snack takes about an hour.”
She adds: “The need for blood doesn’t take a rest - there are always patients undergoing treatments or those caught up in emergency situations who will need that blood day-in and day-out, so the need for donors is always there.”
Over Christmas week the Inverness Donor Centre at Raigmore Hospital is open every day except Christmas Day and Boxing Day while a number of community sessions are also planned throughout December and into January.
Dr Armstrong-Fisher says: “You can create your own account at the donations website www.scotblood.co.uk - through which you can then see what is available and make an appointment.
“The website has a wealth of information to answer most questions - including a short questionnaire to determine your eligibility to donate - or you can call 0345 90 90 999 where a member of the support team will be able to help or can pass your query on to one of the medical team to respond to you.”
