How to give blood in England: age, weight and how to book

Blood cannot be manufactured — it can only be donated. In England, donated blood is collected by NHS Blood and Transplant, the NHS service responsible for blood and transplants. One donation, the service says, can save up to three lives. It is worth knowing in advance who can donate and how it works, so there are no surprises on the day.

Who can give blood?

You can give blood for the first time between the ages of 17 and 65. If you have donated before, the upper age limit is 72, and regular donors may be able to continue beyond that. There is a weight requirement: donors must weigh between 50kg (7 stone 12 lb) and 158kg (25 stone). A stone is a British unit of weight, about 6.35kg. Before donating, you answer a short health questionnaire about your health, travel and medicines — some conditions temporarily or permanently rule out donating, to protect both donor and patient.

How often can you donate?

Your body needs time to rebuild its iron stores, so there is a gap between donations. Men can give blood every 12 weeks and women every 16 weeks. People with genetic haemochromatosis (a condition where the body stores too much iron) can sometimes donate more often — as frequently as every 6 weeks.

How do you book and what happens on the day?

You book through blood.co.uk or by calling 0300 123 23 23, where you can also find your nearest donor centre or mobile session. The service particularly needs donors with rare blood types and donors from communities whose blood is needed to treat specific illnesses. Before your visit, you are advised to eat well and drink extra water.

What happens to the blood afterwards?

Donated blood is tested in a laboratory and usually separated into components — red cells, plasma and platelets. Different patients need different components, whether for surgery or childbirth, cancer treatment or injuries. That is why a single donation really can help several people at once.

How to prepare and what to do afterwards?

On the day, the service advises eating well, drinking extra water and avoiding heavy physical activity straight after donating. Giving the blood itself takes about ten minutes, but you should allow roughly an hour for the whole visit, including the questionnaire, checks and a rest. Once your donation is taken, you will be asked to sit for a while and have a drink and a snack, which helps you feel well. If it is your first time, there is no need to worry: staff explain every step, and most donors find it straightforward and come back again.

Current rules and the list of centres are always published on the official NHS Blood and Transplant site, blood.co.uk.