What happens when I donate?

Before coming along to donate
Please ensure you have something to eat and drink before you visit.

Getting started
You will be asked to read the Donor Information Leaflet and fill in a Donor Health
Check Questionnaire.
If you are a new donor, you will also have a brief chat with a nurse. This is simply to check you are in good health and that giving blood will not harm you or the patient who receives your donation.

Testing your haemoglobin (iron) level
To make sure your body can spare a pint of blood, your haemoglobin level needs to be tested. This is done by taking a small sample of blood from your finger.

Now it's time to give your donation
Your donation will take 10 to 15 minutes to collect. We aim to take 470mls of blood, with additional samples for testing. This may sound like a lot but it is less than a pint in total.

After a short rest, a drink and some biscuits, that's you!

Congratulations!

• Information leaflets for blood donors

  • File Type: pdf Giving Blood - Donor Information Leaflet
  • File Type: pdf Haemoglobin and You