Some Saskatchewan residents want to changes to eligibility and accessibility when it comes to giving blood.
Published Oct 22, 2023 • Last updated 16 hours ago • 3 minute read
While there is a strong need for blood donors across Saskatchewan, some residents say they are unable to help because of policy or access.
Peter Davies of Saskatoon emigrated from Wales in 1982. He said he donated more than two dozen times when he lived in the United Kingdom and continued to donate every six months when he moved to Canada until he was told that he was ineligible because he lived in the UK after January 1980.
Advertisement 2
This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.
THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY
Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada.
Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account.Get exclusive access to the Regina Leader-Post ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on.Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists.Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists.Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword.
SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES
Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada.
Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account.Get exclusive access to the Regina Leader-Post ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on.Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists.Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists.Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword.
REGISTER TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES
Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.
Access articles from across Canada with one account.Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments.Enjoy additional articles per month.Get email updates from your favourite authors.
Article content
Article content
“Obviously some blood got into the system from someone who is no longer eligible,” Davies said.
Canadian Blood Services won’t accept blood from people who spent at least three months in the UK between January 1980 and Dec. 31, 1996 due to the “small potential risk” of acquiring Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease — a “human form” of Mad Cow Disease.
“What I don’t like is when I see them calling out for donors and saying they can’t get donors when there’s probably a whole bunch of people like me that are not eligible for something that happened 40 years ago,” Davies said, adding he would like the policy to be revisited.
While some changes were made to Canadian Blood Services’ criteria on variant Creutzfeldt-Jacob disease last year, those who spent a cumulative total of at least three months in the United Kingdom during the time frame remain ineligible to donate.
Last year, Australian Red Cross Lifeblood and the American Red Cross both lifted the restrictions that prevented those who spent time in the UK from donating blood.
Although there are around 690,000 people in Saskatchewan who are eligible to donate blood, accessibility might be an issue for some.
By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc.
Article content
Advertisement 3
This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.
Article content
Rachelle Apperley of Carnduff said she has donated blood a total of 21 times over the years, but hasn’t been able to since Canadian Blood Services stopped offering mobile clinics in several rural communities in 2021. This included Estevan, which was the closest clinic for Apperley.
“It was actually hard to get in. If you weren’t already in the circuit of donating and getting that appointment every four months it was quite hard to get in there,” she said.
Apperley thinks more people would donate if it was convenient for them.
“You see them complain that people don’t donate or only two per cent are donating and then you want to donate, but it’s just not that easy for you,” she said
According to Canadian Blood Services, mobile clinics are still offered in communities including Weyburn, Moose Jaw, Yorkton and Melville.
In a written statement, Canadian Blood Services said decisions around where donation events are held are assessed on a national basis and depend on several factors including the number of units collected, labour and transportation costs, the distance and access to the nearest production site and the need to operate an efficient blood system.
Advertisement 4
This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.
Article content
If travelling to a donor centre or mobile donation event isn’t possible, Canadian Blood Services recommends helping in other ways. This includes encouraging family and friends to donate on your behalf, joining the national stem cell registry, registering to become an organ and tissue donor, or making a monetary donation.
When it comes to eligibility, Canadian Blood Services said it regularly updates the criteria for donating blood, which means if someone can’t donate now, they might be able to in the future.
Treynoldson@postmedia.com
Related Stories
Murray Mandryk: Sask. Party MLAs tuned out serious pronoun bill peril
Saskatchewan legislature passes controversial pronoun bill in special sitting
With some online platforms blocking access to the news upon which you depend, our website is your destination for up-to-the-minute news, so make sure to bookmark leaderpost.com and sign up for our newsletters here so we can keep you informed.
Article content
>>> Read full article>>>
Copyright for syndicated content belongs to the linked Source : Leader Post – https://leaderpost.com/news/saskatchewan/blood-needed-in-sask-some-willing-residents-unable-to-donate