My appointment to give blood was cancelled with about 2 hours notice… I was well up for going and everything.

by american_cheesehound

44 comments

  2. Odd they don’t say exactly why it was cancelled. The writing style suddenly jumps to being written as if it was someone else looking in on the process.

  3. I get messages about how they need my blood type urgently but the next appointment is 30 miles and 4 months away.

  5. It’s probably because there weren’t enough staff to cover the session safely. Annoying but it happens

  6. This is why I donate plasma instead. Plenty of appointments, even same day, and they never cancel.

  7. They did this to me 4 times in a row, one time it happened when I was literally sat in the car park about to head into the appointment. Eventually I just gave up.

  11. I really built myself for an appointment (I hate even doing regular blood tests and had a lot of anxiety about it). I had to book about 3 months in advance too. When I eventually got there I found out they couldn’t find a good enough vein. 😑

  12. I’m gutted to see your appointment was cancelled. It’s probably short of staff or high priority people have swiped your spot. (Some blood types are very low at the moment) Please make the effort to rebook and go again, it’s an amazing thing!

    Giving blood is one of the things I look at very proudly in my life.

    10 donations over your life alone could have saved 20-30 people from death.

  13. The donor centres are best. However, normally they overbook outside events because of inevitable no shows. Sometimes they might need an ambulance, or someone has fainted or raged or anything.

    Keep trying, it’s worth it. You trade blood, which you make for free, for premium snacks.

  14. If you’re in London it maybe staff not being able to go in due to the tube strikes.

  15. Ive had one cancelled the day before, one I arrived and the place had a sign saying cancelled, I got a text after the appointment time, and the third time, cancelled about 15 minutes before while I was on my way. Its ridiculous.

  16. I get this frequently only to then get the constant messages about how they urgently need blood. I’m trying to give it to you my chap don’t you see!

  17. I know the feeling. You get all hyped to do it and then it’s really disappointing when it’s not possible.

    I went in and had all the pre donation tests done only to find out my condition means I’m not a suitable donor. I was gutted because I’m O- and really wanted to take part. My mum is now in the same boat so neither of us can donate.

  19. Undoubtedly an inconvenience but 2 hours doesn’t seem like an unreasonable amount of notice… I would guess you’re not over 2 hours from the venue?

    I had one a couple of months ago where they’d had to cancel every appointment that evening because someone earlier on had fainted and wasn’t strong enough to get up for an hour. And there wasn’t any notice for lots of people due to the high number of cancellations they were trying to process.

    I find that approaching the process with flexibility and understanding saves me any aggro. It isn’t perfect but after all it’s something we volunteer to do not a service we pay for.

  20. Once they done away with walk in appointments it kinda fucked everything didn’t it

  22. I’m sat in the queue now, waiting for the session, apparently because I’m R0 (A+) I’m in demand because it can be used for sickle cell treatment.

    I get regular texts to remind me to attend, it’s like having a needy vampire mate with a weak grasp on boundaries 

  23. I gave blood once, never again.

    Too many stupid questions;

    Whose blood is it?

    Where did you get it from?

    Why is it in a bucket?

  24. I’ve had this before and was already on the way so went in and played dumb. They didn’t have safe staff levels and cancelled the whole event. This is quite rare though, they’ll usually drop out some of the donors (typically less needed blood types) and run a reduced session.

  25. I have a story about giving blood that may cheer you up a little.

    I’m terrified of needles. When I was 18, my girlfriend at the time arranged for the two of us to go and give blood at our college. I needed an out. I told her I was scared, but she pressured me into going. When we got there, I panicked and told her I couldn’t do it because I’m bisexual and I’d had sex with men.

    She broke up with me.

  26. Someone I know works for the NHS in one of these blood donation centres. She says they know days or sometimes weeks in advance that some appointments need to be cancelled, because the sessions are run with the maximum amount of appointments with the minimum amount of staff, so any kind of staff sickness or absence means appointments need to be cancelled. But the senior management are so obsessed cramming as many appointments in as possible and looking good in the stats, that they won’t let them cancel the appointments until like an hour or two before. Everyone hates it but there’s nothing they can do unfortunately.

  27. Just checked the next appointment I can actually do as I have a job is 2nd January 2026. I’ve given blood bout 8 times now and my last two appointments were cancelled with hours before my appointment. I could go tomorrow but I have a job and so can’t be there for 2pm. I love doing it but I’m starting to give up now.

  28. I tried to go a few months ago, turned away because I was waiting for the results of a blood test (that I requested – just to check my hormone levels)

    Ok fair enough. Went again last week, went through alllll the checks and travel history again, got in the chair, then was told due to my anatomy my vein is too close to an artery on both arms so I’m not able to give blood. A real shame! 🙁

  29. I started donating blood in my late teens/early twenties and donated several times a year (universal donor blood type) and was always happy to do it.

    Unfortunately, since they have closed all local donation centres, cancel appointments and the wait times are extraordinary I haven’t donated in years.

    Unfortunately, the system is fucked without the walk in centres and mobile donations centres – stick will always be low thanks to this.

  30. I gave up giving blood a few years ago due to the lack of appointments, and when I did turn up, it would be me sitting around for an hour+, then 10 minutes to give the blood.

  31. And then wait 4-6 months for the next available appointment…

  32. Every single time I book, they cancel on me. The appointments near me are always months away too, never anything within a few weeks and when I have managed to find one closer in time, that is always cancelled too. I’ve never actually donated once because it is always cancelled. Gave up eventually.

  33. Same here. Constantly getting messages to donate. 3 times in the last year ive booked and they have cancelled every time either the day before or a few hours before appointment. Try to rebook and there is nothing local to me for months. I have managed to get one for 3 weeks time, i wont hold out much hope though.

  34. I’ve been banned for a year for even attempting to give blood, so count yourself lucky! (I have slightly low haemoglobin) – I attempted to donate twice. I’m mixed race, and it turns out the “low” haemoglobin is an ethnicity related thing, as the guidelines are set based on white/ Caucasian people!

  35. I got to 12 donations then had some work-related stress that gave me a minor seizure. No cause found, and so far no other events (incl nothing in a 2 week hospital stay).

    It was, unfortunately, enough to get me banned from donating again. They’re really strict about that kind of thing. I was a neo donor too :/

  36. It’s me who’s probably been on the phone to help you book, baso, we don’t even get told why they got cancelled. Unfortunately it’s mainly staffing issues or demand being met but with us using non static venues it can get trickier, which is is also why appointments are abit shit, if you want to donate please try the closest donor centre as they’re normally quite steady but I appreciate not everyone can get to one.

    You can also give feedback to us by calling the number too!

  37. I have a low demand blood type. I still get all the pushy marketing to donate, yet there are zero appointments available for me to book in as blood type isn’t in demand!

  38. I once had mine cancelled with zero notice. It was still on the app that morning, but on the day I show up and they turn me away.

  39. I tried donating once, went to the church where it was supposed to be happening, correct time etc. There was no blood van, no signs, no nothing. I went inside and it kinda looked like they were having a ritual or sermon or w/e goes on inside churches. Ffs put up a fecking sign or if it’s cancelled say so!

  40. It’s so dependant on where you are. Where I’d lived previously I had to book 2 or 3 months in advance and there weren’t any appointments after 6.

    Where I am now I get emailed asking if I’d please book an appointment for next week.

    It is sad that they don’t have more open sessions.

  41. Haha that’s nothing. I had my appointment a few weeks ago cancelled as I was walking out the door! Assumed the buzz on my wrist as I was leaving was my calendar notification, got out the gate, checked my phone “oh.” Literally 10 minutes before. My first attempt to donate in over a year because I had a couple failures in a row and decided to get a bit healthier before trying again. Next available appointment was the day I need to leave for a work trip so that’s a no. Just checked again (thanks for the reminder!) next available is late December. With any luck I’ll have moved house by then so no point booking that one either. Can’t say I didn’t try!

  42. I’ve given up with them

    As others have said – cancelled appointments changed process that makes it harder to donate and locations more difficult

    You should just be able to go into the local hospital take a ticket validate the parking and donate

  43. Same thing happened to me, had to rebook. Also, they never told me what my blood type is and that was one of my main reasons for going

  44. they keep calling me and telling me to donate despite the fact I donated last month so CANNOT. DONATE. YET.

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