Donating Blood With Ease

A glimpse into the world of phlebotomists

Earlier this morning whilst having my blood tests taken, I had an open and frank discussion with a phlebotomist. We were chatting about her job, how much she loves it and the fact that I’ve never, in all my 49 years donated blood. I know. But that is all about to change.

For some, giving blood is a routine act of kindness, but for me, it’s a milestone, a decision I’ve pondered over and hesitated to make for years. No particular reason. I actually enjoy watching my blood being taken and I absolutely love the word phlebotomist.

I’ve always been intrigued my the medical field, but it wasn’t until today that I truly appreciated the dedication and compassion that phlebotomists bring to their work. It was during my routine blood test, where I met this incredible lady, who in the span of a few minutes, encouraged me to take the leap of faith and donate my blood.

What struck me most, was her enthusiasm for her job, she shared with me that she had only undergone 7 weeks training to become a phlebotomist, which astonished me. Despite her limited formal training, she excelled in making patients like me feel comfortable and at ease, during what could be a nerve wracking experience.

Now I’ve had that conversation, I do believe phlebotomists are the unsung heroes. If we just take a moment to pause for thought, they are responsible for collecting blood samples that are crucial for diagnoses and treatments. I imagine their work can be physically demanding and emotionally draining, yet they seem to approach their work with unwavering dedication. Pretty damn awesome.

On reflection, I couldn’t help but feel inspired by her passion and dedication to help others. It made me realise that giving blood isn’t just about the act itself; it’s about supporting the incredible professionals that make it all possible.

Today I’ve gained a new perspective on the importance of giving blood and I hope that my journey will inspire others to take this step with ease, knowing that it’s not just a donation but a step towards helping save lives.

Why do we need to donate blood?

• The UK needs 4,300 blood donations every day on average to meet the needs of our hospitals.

• Our community needs over 140,000 people to donate blood for the first time this year.

• Ideally, hospitals in the UK need 12,000 new black heritage donations to meet the growing demand for ethnically matched blood for sickle cell patients who need regular transfusions to stay alive.

• More young people aged 17-35 are needed to donate blood, to ensure we have enough blood for the future.

Giving blood saves lives. FACT!

The blood we give is a lifeline in an emergency and for people who need long-term treatments. So on that note, I’m off to book my appointment.

Until the next time

Take care & stay safe xxx