This is Care Opinion [siteRegion]. Did you want Care Opinion [usersRegionBasedOnIP]?
Care Opinion

I enjoy giving blood and saving lives as a result!

Posted By Karenpff2010

"I enjoy giving blood and saving lives as a result!"

About: Scottish National Blood Transfusion Service

(as the patient),

I've been giving blood on a regular basis since 2006 and have given 28 pints of A+ in that time.

I have donated in several locations, my hometown - Kirriemuir, my current town I live in - Forfar, as well as Dundee, Ninewells Hospital (static) and a few other places.

My experience of giving blood has always been a positive one every time, start-to-finish, regardless of the location.

The staff are wonderful, friendly, chatty and of course professional in what they do. They appear to follow procedures to the letter, and every stage of giving blood is done thoroughly and safely. From reviewing your questionnaire form, to using hand rubs between patients, nothing gets past them!

It can be a bit of a wait at times, especially if you have just walked-in, and not booked ahead of time, but it can also be busy with lots of people waiting to give blood! Not a bad sign though is it?

I'm proud to say I have never fainted, but I have seen fellow donors faint and the staff were quick to attend to the victim and bring them round.

Of course the best bit is getting a cuppa and a biccy at the end! Free reward!

On a serious note however, the staff here in Angus/ Tayside are wonderful and take great care of their donor patients. If the donation experience was rubbish, dangerous or just poor, it would probably put me off from donating ever again, but I am proud to say this is not the case. If anything I enjoy giving blood and saving lives as a result!

I also like their Rewards Scheme they have in place. Bronze, Silver and Gold Awards and beyond are given when you reach those respective milestones in giving blood. To be fair, I had forgotten about them for a while, and so I was delighted when I was presented with my Silver Award and certificate in May last year for donating 25 pints! It's a real motivational booster to keep giving blood, and makes you feel rewarded and proud to have donated so many pints that have saved so many lives. Please do not scrap the Rewards Scheme!

On a final note, I also like keeping up to date on the Scottish National Blood Transfusions website for session dates, blood stocks news etc, as well as regular updates from their Facebook page, and they always respond quickly to questions from donors/ potential donors too. Great!

10/10 from me: -)

More about:
Do you have a similar story to tell? Tell your story & make a difference ››

Responses

Response from NHS National Services Scotland 7 years ago
NHS National Services Scotland

Submitted on 20/01/2017 at 15:19
Published on Care Opinion at 15:42

Dear Karenpff2010

We are always delighted to receive positivefeedback and to pass it on to the staff concerned. Many thanks for taking the time to post so positively on patient opinion and for taking the time to donate blood so frequently.

Thank you!

Mary Morgan

Director of Scottish National Blood Transfusion Service

  • {{helpful}} {{helpful == 1 ? "person thinks" : "people think"}} this response is helpful
Response from NHS National Services Scotland 7 years ago
NHS National Services Scotland

Submitted on 20/01/2017 at 15:53
Published on Care Opinion at 15:55

Dear Karen

Thank you for taking the time to provide feedback to SNBTS. We value all feedback, and your comments are very welcome.

Huge thanks to you or being such a committed blood donor, and for giving 28 donations to date. As each donation is split into three separate parts (red cells, platelets and plasma), this means you have saved or improved the lives of up to 84 people in Scotland – an amazing achievement.

We will be sure to pass on your positive remarks to our colleagues, who work very hard to ensure blood donors have a great donation experience, so this will mean a huge amount to them. We are aware there can occasionally be issues with queues at session, and are working very hard to try and reduce this, as we know donors can be very busy. We also value your comments on the reward system, our website, and our social media presence,which we continually work to improve. Huge congratulations on receiving your silver award, and we hope you value this token of appreciation, presented to you for reaching your milestone event of 25 donations. We very much hope you continue you donating career, and look forward to welcoming you in 2017. The patients who receive your blood cannot thank you personally, so on their behalf, and from all at SNBTS, thank you!

All best wishes

SNBTS

  • {{helpful}} {{helpful == 1 ? "person thinks" : "people think"}} this response is helpful
Opinions
Next Response j
Previous Response k