GiveBlood NHS  Reviews 82

I went into Manchester to give blood today and was so well looked after i needed to share. Francine looked after me, answering my daft questions and having a laugh. I have donated over 80 times and loved my visit. See you again soon

Date of experience: July 04, 2025

Donated over 37 timed and last time I was told the biscuits for everyone to share then was refused water and told to leave,passed out in toilet they refused to attened and called police.made a complaint then found that they have blocked me from donations for life

Date of experience: July 30, 2024

I donated blood at the centre in Brixton yesterday, and it was a completely positive experience. It was very easy to book on line. The centre is new, clean and spacious. The staff were efficient and friendly. I was seen at my appointment time and ready to leave 40 minutes later. Particular thanks to the lovely Marsha who looked after me.
My only complaint is they don't serve tea afterwards!

Date of experience: June 03, 2025

Awful experience at Westfield Donor Centre - Various addresses given (1st Floor, Under level,..) when the centre is on the 2nd floor. Was not given proper instructions on the meal delay before blood donation and was asked to come back later later after a meal.
Countless questions repeated and re-detailed via the form and various staff before being said that I could not give blood before obtaining info from my GP...and asked to follow-up on the request... Forgetting that blood donation is totally voluntary act without any incentive. Promptly dismissed without courtesy ("Take a biscuit and you can leave") when it was clear I could not donate that day.
Such a shame as I universal donor from Africa.
Have been put off for good. Will not attempt again..

Date of experience: May 30, 2025

Have given blood locally twice recently. A right faff trying to get an appointment within walking distance. Booked a further appointment immediately after my last donation (nearly 4 months in advance, and to work round overseas travel) only to have it cancelled at relatively short notice with no explanation. Now I'm getting pinged on a regular basis because blood stocks are low. Cause and effect.

Date of experience: April 21, 2025

Have tried to give blood before. First time I made an appointment at a mobile service. Got there on time and was told that someone had just turned up and it would be about an hour wait????? This time I went to a larger event in a big hall. Nightmare traffic journey and was 20 minutes late. Was told, very rudely that I probably couldn’t be seen as I was late. Was then told I could be seen. Spent 45 minutes speaking to a Blood carer, going over the same questions again and again,!who told me that because I had broken bones and had an operation 10 years ago, I would have to be referred to a nurse, to basically answer all the same questions again. There was already 1 very bored looking lady in front of the queue, to see the nurse. I thought it would take about an hour???? Not all day. I left. I will never bother again. I was trying to help but left thinking, what a waste of time and effort

Date of experience: April 25, 2025

Absolutely awful service. Rearranged my appointment after the 1st appointment was cancelled earlier this week without my knowledge to turn up at the venue to be told due to staffing issues my appointment had been cancelled again due to staff shortage.
Giving up time with my family over Easter weekend to give blood (would of been my 47th donation ) to have the appointment cancel on the day is shocking. And a great way to put people off donating- after saying they are short of blood constantly.

Date of experience: April 20, 2025

Drove 10 miles to give blood, and what I waste of the nurses and my time. Plus after spending 1 hour 30 min with a giveblood advisor, we ran though countless questions and she advised I would be okay to attend. The call centre staff need to either proper training or outsource to a company who can forfil the pain points.

Date of experience: April 15, 2025

Does cold calling really work with this service? If I ever want to donate I book myself in. Just got off the call with a very rude person telling me nothing is stopping me from donating, and asking for personal information that I didn’t want to share. I asked him if it was essential to stop calling me, and he said no, but continued to press for it. Seriously.

Date of experience: March 26, 2025

What can I say Christ Church Gravesend fantastic. Was my son's 1st time giving blood and Shelly was so great with him. Answed all questions cant praise her enough. Thank you Shelly he has already book his next time

Date of experience: March 10, 2025

Donated blood at the new Brixton donor centre, SW9. Was asked not what I had to eat but what I had, in an abrupt manner. Unfortunately the new centre lacked the personal touch that myself as a long time donor has experienced in the past. I’m afraid I will continue donating blood at my usual community and church centres. I think that the centre has to be aware of new donors having not such as positive experience.

Date of experience: February 22, 2025

I regularly donate blood at Worksop The Crossing Church Centre, and I am continually impressed by the dedication and kindness of the entire team. Their hard work and selflessness are truly inspiring, and they are making such a meaningful impact in the community. I want to thank each and every one of them for their efforts in saving lives and creating a positive atmosphere. Your work is invaluable—please keep up the amazing job!

Date of experience: November 22, 2024

Arrived at Hopton on time to be met with belligerent nurse who barked at us, then complained we didn’t have paperwork although nhs blood hadn’t sent any out, said couldn’t wait in their seating unless giving blood and generally made us feel unwelcome. If nhs want blood donors they need to show common courtesy…. don’t go to Hopton!

Date of experience: January 20, 2025

Husband went to give blood today at Hereford racecourse. He arrived only half an hour early due to a family committment and was not allowed to donate. As NHS are desperate for blood at this time, some leniency should be applied.

Date of experience: January 14, 2025

Simple, easy to book. On attendance everyone was friendly, and of course helpful throughout the session. Would definitely recommend the service to anyone who can give blood. Thanks to everyone, all good.

Date of experience: January 03, 2025

Typical NHS service of poorly organised time and money wasting !

Signed up couple of years ago and I get phoned up and asked to give blood every few months. I’ve not actually been able to give blood yet as 4x in a row they have cancelled my appointment two hours before.

Not giving again

Date of experience: December 10, 2024

The first-time I gave blood the closest centre was Birmingham so I booked it for my day off and although something new to me went off without too much hassle (the hardest thing was gaining entry to the building)

My second time in Wolverhampton however was really rather unpleasant. I attended the venue early and it reminded me somewhat of a jumble sale, I had to wait 30mins past my appointment time before the phlebotomist came for me. Paperwork and test completed I get settled in the chair, the "blood flow" was slow he thought I was clotting and needed to adjust the needle he asked me to keep clenching my fist while he did so, the nurse came over and told me I shouldn't be doing that. She told him to stop to process, what neither of the caught onto was the fact the blood flow was slow because he'd left the cuff inflated restricting blood flow...

I've a huge bruise on the inside of my arm which I didn't experience my first time visiting and honestly has quite put me off. IF I do go back it won't be Wolverhampton despite how close it is.

Date of experience: November 05, 2024

I am more than happy to donate.

One would think that given we donate it for free, they will have sufficient funds to sponsor their operations giving more flexibility to people who have busy life and work with venues and times available.

Unfortunately this is not the case...

Venues are far apart, often getting cancelled, times available are 2-3 months in advance only.... If you do get to come - you can tell that the whole operation is understaffed as well as not fully trained on occasions, giving me impressions that front staff are young volunteers who again - are not paid to do what they do.

Only place they have invested in, are call centers, who will set your phone on fire with calls being done ever other week....even if you already donated and have your appointment scheduled...

Jo Farrar has done nothing since he become CEO 1,5 year ago and should be let go....

Bring someone who is really passionate to bring the good cause to its excellence.

For me, based on my experience and others that I read, impressions are - its a failure not of lack of blood available for donations, but the infrastructure that has been failing for years and not providing real opportunities for people to do Good

Date of experience: October 20, 2024

One fully believes in the cause to donate blood and the reasons behind it. They always claim that blood levels are low and that we should go and donate. I am more than willing and happy to. However, it is not well implemented. In many locations one cannot get appointments to donate blood until three months time. When donors often have busy schedules and do not know what they will be doing in three months time with higher priorities. Then when one does get an appointment the staff refuse to take blood from donors simply because they can’t find the blood. This is inexcusable, raising the question do they really have low levels of blood, if they did they would easily find the blood in donors. This is simply a waste of resources both for the donors and the Service and it’s staff.

Date of experience: October 06, 2024

Im a 0- negative blood donor, I like to donate regularly, however it would seem the NHS don’t want my blood.

It’s been twice off the trot now where I have booked my donation slot at the only nearest venue local to me just for the NHS to go and cancel the venue.

If that’s not bad enough the NHS then pester me on the phone at home to book an appointment to donate, the lady said it was the venue that cancelled and not the NHS.

This was not true as I had already spoken with the venue who said it was the NHS who had cancelled.

I am unable to attend any other venue further a field due to constraints on my time being as I’m a carer for both my elderly parents.

NHS if your going to cancel my appointment please don’t then hassle me on the phone at home to book to go elsewhere.

I’ve booked it’s you who keep cancelling.

I’m trying my best to do the right thing, you ask for O- donors but then cancel their appointments 😡

Date of experience: September 26, 2024