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Betterment Ramblings

Changes whilst donating blood…

I donated blood today and noticed a number of changes (it’s been 70 days since my last donation…)

  1. The donor consent/medical history form has changed (it now asks if you have ever been out of the country)
  2. There’s a sign asking you to contact the Blood Bank should you feel unwell, nausea, have diarrhoea, etc. within 7 days after donating blood (in the past everything focused on events prior to that donation)
  3. They now use a different bandage and different tape (thinner and weaker). When I asked the nurses why they changed, they muttered that it’s ‘likely’ to save money – ironic when it was explained that they now needed to use more {of both} than with the older products.

One of the nurses asked me how come I noticed so many changes, and upon a quick think (because I had not consciously thought of this in the past) I put it down to being more observant of things being different. We discussed the fact that change is required to keep things moving/progressing, but change for changes sake, or change for such a one-dimensional aspect (saving money without factoring in the increased usage) is just ludicrous. The staff won’t thank management for it, if anything, it will drive a wedge between them and management.

I wonder how many ‘upper management’ decisions truly encompass the views and inputs of the people using the items on a daily basis? Will the Blood Bank truly save money with decisions like this? How many other false prophecies are being played out every day in companies, large and small?

I’m all for change but like to know that consultation and communication are included as part of any decision to make changes (for whatever result).

5 replies on “Changes whilst donating blood…”

Thanks for donating.

It’s still 4 years before I might be able to donate again, and I really miss it. I only managed to get up 178 donations, so it will be nice to get back to it and reach my personal goal of 800.

Yesterday’s donation was donation #57 🙂 I’m not able to rack up huge donations as I don’t donate plasma. I’ve not checked whether I am allowed to donate plasma or not, I will find out though 🙂

After 25 years of medical treatments, including bouts of anaemia, and the wonderful (medicinal) drugs I’ve been subjected to in my lifetime, plus a tendency for dodgy veins I’ve never given blood. My body is going to be an awesome example for medical science! There’s veins of gold somewhere in my body, so perhaps I’ll be mined!

You should be able to donate plasma, very few people can’t donate it.

The good thing about plasma is, as long as you drink enough water after it, the next day you feel 100%, unlike whole blood.

Hi Andrew, I’m preaching to the converted, I know, but its SO GOOD to hear of people who donate blood regularly. I am not eligible to donate in Australia because I lived in the UK in the 80’s and early 90’s (when there was the CJD thing going on). I’m supremely grateful to those who do since one day your contribution may save my life.

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