Will’s Donation Story
Here we shine a light on regular blood donor Will, who works in the COVID-19 intensive treatment unit (ITU) at one of the largest hospitals in London. Read on to find out why he donates blood, and how his job reinforces the importance of blood donation for him.
Can you tell us more about your experiences of donating blood?
"I have been donating blood since I was about 18, as I started as soon as I went to university. I try to do it as often as I am allowed to, so I think I have donated about 15 times. I’m always pleasantly surprised at how enjoyable and efficient the whole process is - I’m usually out of there within 30 minutes of walking in the front door!"
Do you do anything differently on a donation day compared to normal days?
"Not really, I just make sure I eat lunch and keep hydrated. I’ve always felt well enough afterwards to meet up with friends, go to work or do anything else I’ve needed to."
As an NHS doctor, can you tell us about an intense blood transfusion you've seen?
"There are a lot to choose from, but I’ll keep details vague to protect confidentiality. We recently had a patient who spontaneously bled into their abdomen, and by the time we got control of the bleed during surgery they had lost seven litres of blood, which is more than the patients' entire circulating blood volume, and more than 12 pints of donated blood. If we hadn’t been able to transfuse huge amounts of donated blood, platelets and blood products back into this person, there’s absolutely no question that they would have died that day. As it happens, that patient ended up recovering well, going home to their family and was able to continue living their life."
Is there any advice you would give to someone who is worried about donating blood?
"Try to relax - it’s honestly not a big deal. Don’t focus on the technical aspects of it, like the needle or the timing or the equipment. Just think about the massive difference that your small sacrifice will make to someone somewhere in the country."