Somebody’s Type: The Politics and Experience of Blood Donation as a University Student in the UK

Matthew O’Regan, Junior Reporter, BA Global Liberal Arts

On the 8th of August 2014 the Irish Times ran a viral article titled ‘British Urgently Want the Blood of Irish People’ about an NHS blood donation outreach scheme. The viral article prompted an official response from NHS Blood and Transplant later that day, clarifying that ‘nobody should expect British doctors on the streets looking for Irish blood.’ The Irish Times article resurfaced as a meme in 2020 and 2024. By 2017, the NHS adopted the slogan ‘You are somebody’s type’ which has been repeated by the Red Cross (IFRC). Blood donation is one of the least comfortable things I could imagine doing. But, on finding out one of my parents has the universal blood donor type, I decided to try it. It was far less daunting than I thought, though still challenging. Blood donation occupies an interesting position in society, the intersection of health politics and community aid. So, here I share my experience of what donation was like and what I’ve learnt since then.

Blood circulation was first accurately described in 1616 by English doctor William Harvey, the transfusion of blood to treat illness was soon proposed in 1628 by Giovanni Colle. The first known human to-human blood transfusion was attempted in 1818 and was successfully completed in 1825 by James Blundell. In 1901 Austrian Doctor Karl Landsteiner first divided blood into A, B and C, which was later changed into type A, B and O. This was expanded to include Rhesus positive/negative markings. There are 34 other blood classification systems but these are deemed the most relevant. Type O- blood, known as the “universal blood donor type”, can be given to people with every blood group. In 1920, Percy Lane Oliver began the first voluntary blood donation drive at King’s College Hospital in Camberwell. In 1940 Edwin Cohn separated plasma into its different parts and during the Second World War plasma it was adopted as an essential tool to treat major injuries.

To donate, I first had to create an online donor account at NHS Give Blood (https:// my.blood.co.uk/your-account/ sign-up) and book my first appointment on the NHS ‘Give Blood’ app. In order to get the donation done by the weekend, I booked an appointment at the donation centre in Brixton which had opened 1 month ago. The donation area was fluorescently lit but the waiting room had subdued lamps above, which allowed for a more comforting environment. There were many advertisements for the new centre in the central area outside Brixton’s Victoria Line station which made it easy to find. Unlike a blood test, you are required to have eaten before the appointment. There was a table with mostly unfamiliar British brands of crisps, plantain chips, Kit Kats and fruit squash. There was a testimonial from a donor on the wall who stated that the Kit Kats kept them coming back to the clinic. Once I had confirmed my details at the front desk I filled in a form called a Donation Safety Check. Travel to malaria-prone areas, piercings, blood conditions, potential contraction of HIV from unprotected sex, drugs or sex work within the last three months are the main disqualifying factors on that list. You are allowed to donate having drank a small amount the night before, but not hungover. The small private rooms within the clinic were named Coldharbour Lane, Electric Avenue, Brixton Village and Windrush Square, with framed pictures of those areas decorating them. I had a confirmation of my Donation Safety Check and haemoglobin iron-level pinprick test on my thumb in the Electric Avenue room.

It wasn’t easy to get over my fear of blood during the whole process. The staff are very friendly and do their best to put donors at ease, with the nurse treating me informing me how she overcame her anxiety during her first donation. There was a consistent small sharp pain at the spot where blood was being taken, which normally takes 7-10 minutes. The staff advise using your phone to do something non-stressful. The recovery was far less stressful but ended up affecting my body the most. In the centre, you have to rest for 15 minutes and the day afterward you are advised to take more rest and eat loads of salty treats. I donated blood halfway through an active weekend and the blood loss contributed to a pretty laid back vibe. Avoiding strenuous exercise is also recommended for donation recovery, so I didn’t dance as much that night. Despite being nervous during the donation, it was one of the most manageable medical recoveries I could possibly have. Three days after my test I received the news that I have A+ blood with a rare Ro blood subtype.

Blood donation services across the world encourage that the demographics of donation represent the demographics of the population as a whole. The NHS state that they intentionally designed the Brixton donation centre to be as appealing as possible to young black donors. Sickle cell anemia particularly affects communities of African descent, with a long history of racial injustice through systemic medical neglect. The US CDC website, currently states that of the 100,000 US Americans who are estimated to have sickle cell anemia, 90% are “non-Hispanic Black or African American” and that “3%–9% are Hispanic or Latino”. The Black Panther Party from 1965 onwards set up a screening program as part of their revolutionary commitment to community health, screening thousands of people across the US. Subtype Ro blood, which is necessary to treat sickle cell anemia, is more common in communities of African descent, but only 2% of NHS blood donors have it.

Queer people have had a mixed history with blood donation since the outbreak of the HIV epidemic and restrictions on donation were implemented. I asked the NHS if my identity would affect my donation, as Ireland only re-legalised queer AMAB (assigned male at birth) blood donation in 2022. The UK re-legalised blood donations from the community in 2011, only removing year-long deferral periods in 2021. Blood donation is not universally restrictive for queer individuals, as AFAB (assigned female at birth) people who have sex with AFAB people have no specific blood donation restrictions as they have the lowest chances of STI transmission. Most people on HRT (hormone replacement therapy) can donate for any reason unless they are having complications.

There is always expanding demand for blood donation with the NHS stating that they need ‘around 143,000 new donors’ every year. An increase in repeat donors from early in life is the best solution, as they have more time left in their 17-65 donation window. Experts have suggested that social media should be used to mobilise younger people to donate blood. Many countries offer incentives, another area where health politics comes into blood donation. The most common form of incentive worldwide is time off work. In the UK this exists only at some workplaces, meaning there is no guaranteed benefit beyond Kit Kats. The US, Central Europe, Eastern European, South Asian, Southeast Asian and East Asian countries offer payment, while Western European countries tend not to offer payment. There is an argument provided that this would lead to a system where the blood of poorer people is extracted disproportionately. Sub-Saharan African countries are likely to give financial incentives which are proportionally high compared to local income. During the cost-of-living crisis, this means that many people cannot afford the time to donate on most days.

University students are well placed to take part in blood donation. The lack of material incentive leaves it for large organisations like universities to organise “blood drive” donation events. In 2019, Nottingham Trent University ran a “1000 Pint challenge” for blood donation from students and staff, reaching 1009 within 18 months. The Deputy Head of the University stated “Peer pressure is such a powerful force and there’s no reason it shouldn’t be a force for good”.

Universities are in a privileged position to educate large groups on donation and to contact potential donors face-to-face.