Healthy and active donors are being suspended and some are being withdrawn from giving blood through no fault of theirs but because of the automated systems NHS Blood and Transplant UK use to test donated blood.

Giving blood saves lives. Almost 5,000 donations on average are needed every day to meet the needs of our hospitals. Giving blood is amazing and rewarding — not just for the donor but for the patient. www.blood.co.uk/why-give-blood/

However, not everyone can donate blood. General health and travel are the main causes of this, but there's another cause that is rarely mentioned about this amazing service to the NHS — any blood sample can give a reaction during testing in the laboratory screening tests, which on further testing turns out to be non-specific (this means the blood is not infected). This has absolutely nothing to do with the health of the donor, regardless of age and/or fitness. Often, the reaction might disappear over time. But due to strict rules about blood safety, any blood that "reacts" during testing cannot be used and therefore affects the eligibility of those donors to donate. See more here: www.blood.co.uk/the-donation-process/further-information/tests-we-carry-out/

I am one such donor. I regularly donated blood from 2008 until 2022 when I was informed by letter that my latest blood donation had given a non-specific reaction during testing. I was suspended from giving blood — stopping me in my tracks from a great passion in life, but I’m NOT giving up. I keep healthy and active. In 2023, I did a routine blood test at my local surgery and the results showed that my blood is fine.

This has happened to other fit and healthy donors, some of whom had to be withdrawn because of repeated non-specific reactions.

However, this doesn't happen to everyone. A friend of mine gave his 100th donation in 2024, but none of his blood samples have reacted during testing in the laboratory screening. A nurse at NHSBT told me on the phone, "It's Science. Some blood samples react and some don't. There's no explanation." It seems that whether or not donated blood passes the laboratory screening tests is down to chance — and that should not be. This needs to change — and fast.

I'm aware this comes at a time where health services are extra cautious due to devastation brought on by past incidents. My heart goes out to everyone affected by the Infected Blood Scandal.

This petition is not about me. I’m not asking for any rules regarding blood safety to be changed. This petition is about support for NHS Blood and Transplant TO CONTINUE IMPROVING THEIR SYSTEMS FOR TESTING DONATED BLOOD.

The concern is hospital demands for life-saving blood might not be met because these technical issues are preventing fit and healthy donors from giving blood — especially donors who really want to help save lives. Believe me — I know.

Non-specific reactivity is one of the reasons why some fit and healthy donors are not coming forward as NHS Blood and Transplant is appealing right now for donors to help stock up blood supplies. As recent News Statements on the NHSBT website say, “The need for blood never stops.” www.blood.co.uk/news-and-campaigns/news-and-statements/

As one who has genuine care for others, I have sent out a number of requests by letter, Email and online links for any support for these improvements to NHS Blood and Transplant to continue. In today’s tough times, support for improvements is needed MORE THAN EVER.

If the non-specific reactions continue, more fit and healthy donors will be withdrawn from giving blood, but it doesn't have to be like this. If the NHS can continue to improve their laboratory screening systems, all non-specific reactivity could be a thing of the past. This would mean that fit and healthy donors could continue giving blood and more life-saving blood donations would be issued to hospitals.

The nurse told me on the phone that sometimes, former donors are called back and continue donating.

There is always a need for blood. There is no substitute. Without human blood donations from eligible donors, many patients would not be alive today — and today, many patients would not survive. www.blood.co.uk/the-donation-process/recognising-donors/

Please sign this petition today and spread the word: Facebook, X, social media — you know what to do. Together, we can make a difference!

Thank you everyone.