To donate blood, you should be ‘generally fit and well’ and meet several other criteria
Martin Lewis has spotlighted an important NHS service that’s currently in need of volunteers. The money-saving expert said he tried to sign up himself just yesterday but was turned away due to a very ‘minor medical issue’.
In a post on X, formerly Twitter, he encouraged others to step forward and help. “They didn’t want my blood, but they probably want yours,” he wrote last night. “I went to give blood today, but due to a v minor medical issue they couldn’t take it.
“Yet they told me they do need donors. As I couldn’t help by giving, instead, I thought I’d publicise this…” NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT) is responsible for blood donation services in England and transplants across the UK.
During appointments, blood donors have a needle placed in their arm and remain seated until 470ml – just under a pint – has been extracted. This typically takes just five to 10 minutes.
However, you need to fulfil specific criteria before this is possible. To donate blood, you must be ‘generally fit and well’, and a comprehensive health and lifestyle assessment will be conducted to ensure the donation is safe for both you and patients before proceeding.
Donors must also be:
- Aged 17 to 65 if it’s your first donation, or up to 72 if you’ve donated before (or older if you donate regularly)
- Weigh between seven stone 12 lbs (50kg) and 25 stone (158kg)
- Have suitable veins (this will be checked on the day)
Meanwhile, people who are unable to donate blood include, but are not limited to:
- People who have had most types of cancer
- People who have some heart conditions
- People who have received blood, platelets, plasma or any other blood products after 1 January 1980
- People who have tested positive for HIV
- People who have had an organ transplant
- People who are hepatitis B carriers
- People who are hepatitis C carriers
- People who have injected non-prescribed drugs, including body-building and injectable tanning agents. You may be able to give if a doctor has prescribed the drugs
NHS Blood and Transplant also states that you might need to wait up to three months if you’ve recently had anal sex with a new partner or if you’ve completed taking Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) or Post-Exposure Prophylaxis (PEP) within the last three months.
Recent tattooing, travel outside the UK, and feeling ill are among several other reasons that might require you to wait before donating. Online guidance from the NHS adds: “Men can give blood every 12 weeks and women can give blood every 16 weeks.
“This is because men generally have higher iron levels than women. If you have genetic haemochromatosis, you may be able to donate as often as every six weeks.”
For more information on how your health, lifestyle, or profession may affect your ability to donate, please visit the NHS Blood and Transplant website here. Prospective donors can also call 0300 123 2323 to check their eligibility.