So, today, near work (yea I work on Saturdays ) there is Redcross Blood appeal and I thought it is a good day to do it again (my last donation was back in 1988)
The setups supposed to start at 10am and I was there 9.30 - naturally I was the first there.. Althought there are a lot of redcross people around, no one was there to tell me how or what to do, but there is signs telling me that I should fill up forms and drink water from bottles provided.

So I did.. I fill the form, drink the water and wait the 30 minutes until one of the man working there deign to lookup and ask me if I have an appointment .
I said no I haven't, and he said that they are very busy today and wont be able to take my blood until later. I look around and see no donors around me.
None of the bed is actually used and there are plenty of redcross workers mulling about talking and laughing..

So I just walk out..
I could have gone to work earlier and finish my job earlier and go have my weekend earlier.

I feel bad and slightly upset, but I think I have been mislead. I keep hearing that they are desperate for blood donors but they do not bother to make an effort to make donation easier.
Why I have to make an appointment to give something that is desperately needed?

20 years ago, I could have just walk into any blood bank and they process me within 15 minutes and I will be on my way 1 hour later.

It is ridiculous to think that donation blood is now a privilege only granted on the whim of the social workers there.

That is not good Gelan. I am a Blood Donor also. Maybe a call to the Red Cross HQ in Sydney to let them know that their mobile vans aren't helping them might put a bomb under the staff.

Cheers, Vince

Gelan, I think Vince is right, someone needs to know about this. It shouldn't be difficult to donate blood.

Cary

Anymore they are very picky as to where and who they receive the donations. I have not been able to donate because I was stationed in Germany during the years of Mad Cow disease.