SIR – I recently dropped into my local blood donation session to enquire about becoming a donor. Unfortunately, because I had cancer some years ago and underwent chemotherapy, I’m banned from giving blood for life.
After carrying out a little research, I found that in other countries, such as the US and Australia, you are allowed to give blood five years from the last incidence of the disease or your last treatment, unless it was a blood cancer such as leukaemia.
The nurse who was organising the session told me the National Blood Service is 10,000 units short of the stocks that it needs for this time of year.
It strikes me as both ironic and upsetting that people who have had cancer and have experienced the first-class care of our NHS are the very people who would like to give something back to the system that might have saved their life. Yet we are unable to do so.
I wonder if it’s time for another look at the current regulations.
Sarah Veall
Worcester
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here