Blood donors !!

[nareyclan]

Originally Posted by earlswood

British blood is to pure and rich for ex-cons Australians....it would be such a waste on them anyway....

Tsk Tsk you are baiting

[Mart&Co]

Originally Posted by Redaussies

You learn something new each day. A new mobile blood donation service has been set up near to where I live for this week only. So like a total fool I decided to call in today and offer to donate some blood.

After all we have blood tests as part of our meds to come here right. Well I was shocked to be told Sorry we can't accept your blood because your from the UK. Aparently it's to do with the mad Cow thing in the UK a few years ago. So I turned around and walked back home. I felt disappointed but more angry than anything else. I tried to do what I thought was a good deed and ended up feeling stupid. Just one of those things I guess.

REDDERS

I know what you mean i think it's awful that we look like we have something wrong with us after all we are proberly more healthy than half the aussies.

[Bexta]

I agree with what most people on here have said, for both sides of the discussion.
But lets just say that the Red Cross in Oz did start taking blood from Brits who were in the UK during the outbreak... how would you feel or react if then you had a sick child/partner/relative who recieved a blood transfusion from someone who did happen to carry the virus, and it was passed on to them?

I know the chances of someone carrying it are very slim, but as there is no effective way to test for it, I think the Red Cross are 100% in their right to place these restrictions on people wanting to donate. And I'd like to think they'd do it for any person of any country who could possible be carrying a disease or virus that they can't properly check for!

As an Australian I may be a little bias, but I don't think anyone living here (whether Poms or Aussies or Kiwis or whoever!) would like to risk a sick loved one getting even more sick by letting those who may (or may not) be carrying a virus donate without screening.

And to be honest, if it was the other way around I bet almost everyone in the UK would agree with these measures.

[earlswood]

Originally Posted by nareyclan

Tsk Tsk you are baiting

I was being dead serious

[thewebweazel]

Originally Posted by Bexta

I agree with what most people on here have said, for both sides of the discussion.
But lets just say that the Red Cross in Oz did start taking blood from Brits who were in the UK during the outbreak... how would you feel or react if then you had a sick child/partner/relative who recieved a blood transfusion from someone who did happen to carry the virus, and it was passed on to them?

I know the chances of someone carrying it are very slim, but as there is no effective way to test for it, I think the Red Cross are 100% in their right to place these restrictions on people wanting to donate. And I'd like to think they'd do it for any person of any country who could possible be carrying a disease or virus that they can't properly check for!

As an Australian I may be a little bias, but I don't think anyone living here (whether Poms or Aussies or Kiwis or whoever!) would like to risk a sick loved one getting even more sick by letting those who may (or may not) be carrying a virus donate without screening.

And to be honest, if it was the other way around I bet almost everyone in the UK would agree with these measures.

I Has already happened with me in the uk See below:

Originally Posted by thewebweazel

I have to laugh at this one Redders I was a regular Blood Donor and ABneg which only 0.06% of the population has (It's very special blood) and I was refused to give blood on the grounds that I'm South African and that I might be carrying HIV, yeh right , they don't have a screening for that one yet LOL. They would not even take it for expermentation so that other "good blood " could be used for saving lives!

I this is very close to my heart as at one stage I spent 6 months in Hospital and a further year in and out and some body had made the effort to donate blood for me! Actually if it wasn't for these donors my DW and I would be dead!!!

You know what the funniest was about this whole incident? IT was in the UK!!!

The problem that I have have with Redders and my experience is that any Crazy Idiot can go and donate blood and a Fib on the verbal screening and infect someone just because that have some sort of vendetta!

I hate to think that the blood banks are going on peoples morality to eliminate infected blood only and not proper screening! Hey Ho I'm sure that they know best though, even if I feel a bit discriminated against, I suppose it is for the best!

[calNgary]

I think with the amount of poms out here now ,its time we had a seperate blood bank just for poms. Sooner or later aussies supplys will run out or very low. I understand why they do it ,after all with going through the visa process ,i think we all know they dont like taking chances.
Cal x

[Lazy Cow]

Originally Posted by thewebweazel

The problem that I have have with Redders and my experience is that any Crazy Idiot can go and donate blood and a Fib on the verbal screening and infect someone . I hate to think that the blood banks are going on peoples morality to eliminate infected blood only and not proper screening!

I think people who wish to donate blood tend to be like my OH and those on here. They want to help because they care. I guess there is always the very real threat that some nutcase (no offence KP!) might donate contaminated blood, but I guess that's the same as the threat of any act of hate happening anywhere - you can only do your best to guard against it. I think the theory is that those who give blood voluntarily are good, caring people who know their own health and want to help rather than act maliciously.

It's a shame if any of you feel that you were treated rudely. However, as I think Tim's post pointed out, this rule applies to anyone who lived in the UK between those years regardless of nationality. The adverts that used to be put out on the radio etc did specify that point too, I guess in the hope that no-one would waste their time trying to donate when their blood just wouldn't be able to be received. I was in Earth Science* (yr 10) recently when the whole issue of not donating if you had lived in the UK was covered as part of the syllabus. (That and looking at a similar disease that some cannibals had experienced. I suppose they wouldn't be able to give blood either!lol). I think it's one of those rules you get to know over time - part of the learning curve of migration if you like.

Hopefully one day in the not-too-distant future, that will change as cleaning or whatever becomes more able to cope with these viruses. I hope you will all be kind enough to try again then and not let rude or offhand behaviour put you off.
LC
*PS. In case that gives you the impression I'm a teacher...I'm not that bright!

[thewebweazel]

Originally Posted by Lazy Cow

(That and looking at a similar disease that some cannibals had experienced. I suppose they wouldn't be able to give blood either!lol).

No I'm sure that if you are a cannibal you can give blood, In the UK it's just not my blood they want being South African


But on a serious note can they not use our contaminated blood for other uses- experimentation ect? So that blood that is not contaminated can be used to save lives??

[natalie langley]

Yes have been told the same thing because of the mad cow disease if anyone has been to England in a certain time frame they CANNOT donate blood

PS they are crying out for trades here too but your not allowed to work unless you have a LICENCE !!