Somebody you know could be the perfect match for a patient in need of a bone marrow transplant. Please help us spread the message, click here.
Did you know that hospitals in Wales require 350 donations a day to support patients in need? We can’t supply our hospitals in Wales without you!
Giving blood is quick, simple and entirely safe. And, the best part? You’re saving lives.
We need blood donors from all backgrounds to give blood to meet the daily demand and ensure we have enough for hospital patients. Just one single blood donation can help up to three patients as it can be split into its different components and used in various ways to help patients recover.
Whether you’re giving blood for the first-time or a veteran blood donor, here, you can find everything you need to know about giving blood.
Giving blood is one of the most selfless gifts you can give to another person. By giving blood, you are potentially saving lives and helping patients with specific conditions recover and lead a normal life.
For decades, you have helped save many people’s lives by giving blood. Read some of the inspiring stories from people across Wales who have had a second chance at life.
There’s nothing quite like the feeling of giving blood; knowing that you are helping patients who need your generous blood donation. Plus, did we mention there’s a selection of drinks and sugary treats available after you donate to help your body recover?
Find out more about the benefits of giving blood on our why give blood page.
We encourage and welcome most adults to give blood. There are some reasons people can’t donate, but not as many as people think! Anyone who fits in with the criteria below may be able to give blood:
If you are:
Visit our Can I give blood? page to check if you’re eligible to join our lifesaving team!
Find out more about Research, innovation and development at the Welsh Blood Service.
We want the experience of giving blood to be as easy, safe and pleasant for you. Follow the below for more guidance, advice and information on giving blood.
Click on the link to check your eligibility and find your nearest donation session.
For safety reasons, we’re asking that, where possible, only those giving blood enter the donation session.
We understand bringing children to a clinic in exceptional circumstances may be unavoidable. Due to the variety of environments in which we work and the unpredictable nature of healthcare provision, we cannot create a standardised response for all donors and all children…read more.
We try our best to visit all areas across Wales and we frequently update the website with new appointments. Please check back in 30 days or click here to enrol and receive an invite when we’re next in your area.
From the time you arrive at the centre to the time you leave; the entire process takes approximately 45-60 minutes. The time it takes to give blood is between five and 10 minutes.
We advise that you eat and drink regularly before giving blood to keep your blood sugar levels stable. You should also have a snack and drink water immediately after giving blood to avoid feeling faint or dizzy.
We suggest avoiding doing anything too strenuous before and after giving blood. Light exercise like walking is fine – just remember to stay hydrated.
When giving blood, we need to have easy access to the veins, so we recommend that you wear something comfortable with loose sleeves so it’s easy to roll up your sleeve past your elbow.
We typically take just under a pint of blood (475ml) with additional samples for testing.
There are a few steps to take before volunteering to give blood.
Once you arrive at the donor clinic, we will need to register your details. A member of our team will share with you the Donor Health Check Questionnaire to complete, which will give us more information about your general health, travel and lifestyle, and make sure that you’re fit and healthy to donate blood.
We will take a drop of blood from your fingertip to measure your haemoglobin (iron) level and checks it is within the acceptable range.
Now it’s time to give blood! Giving blood typically takes between five and ten minutes to complete.
Once you have finished donating, it’s time for a rest with a drink and a biscuit (or two!), which is everyone’s favourite part, knowing you’ve done something incredible.
There are different waiting times for females and males who are giving blood. Male donors must wait for a minimum of 12 weeks between each blood donation and can give blood up to four times in a calendar year.
Females must wait for a minimum of 16 full weeks between each blood donation and can give blood up to three times in a calendar year.
