THE RAINBOW PROJECT // DONATING BLOOD
BE A HERO THE RAINBOW PROJECT ARE CALLING ON LGBTQIA PEOPLE WHO WERE PREVIOUSLY UNABLE TO DONATE BLOOD TO CHECK THEIR ELIGIBILITY TODAY. IF YOU HAVE NOT CHANGED PARTNERS IN THE LAST THREE MONTHS – BE A HERO AND DONATE BLOOD TODAY!!!
The eligibility rules for donating blood and platelets has changed!! The questions asked of everyone when they come to donate blood in Northern Ireland has changed. The new eligibility rules will be more inclusive allowing more donors, especially those LGBTQIA people who have never before to donate. The eligibility will now be based on individual circumstances surrounding health, travel and sexual behaviours. Each donor will no longer be asked if they are a man who has had sex with another man, removing the element of the assessment that was previously focused on population-based risks. Any individual who attends to give blood, regardless of gender or sexual orientation, will be asked if they have had sex. If so, they will be asked further questions about their sexual behaviours in the past three months. The process of giving blood will not change. John O’Doherty, Director of The Rainbow Project said: “We have been campaigning on this issue for over 10 years. We welcome the implementation of the Fair Report and the new rules surrounding blood donations. These changes mean a large number of people who have never been able to donate blood will be eligible to do so. We would like to thank the Health Minister, Robin Swann, for ensuring that decisions related to blood donations are based wholly on the best available medical evidence and that policies are implemented
on a UK wide basis. Donating blood is not a right, but a civic responsibility on all of us who are eligible to do so. The focus of The Rainbow Project will now turn to encouraging all those people who are now eligible to register as blood donors. We would like to thank the Northern Ireland Blood Transfusion Service and all the staff for their hard work in implementing the new rules and encourage every member of our community who are in a position to do so to register now to donate blood.” The changes follow an evidence-based review into individualised criteria by the FAIR (For the Assessment of Individualised Risk) UK wide steering group. FAIR has recommended a new donor selection system which is fairer whilst maintaining the UK’s status as one of the safest blood supplies in the world. Karin Jackson, Chief Executive at the Northern Ireland Blood Transfusion Service said, “I am delighted that we have been able to introduce these significant changes to the blood donation criteria over the summer, as planned. I would like to thank John O’Doherty and The Rainbow Project for their support as well as the NIBTS staff who have worked tirelessly to implement the FAIR project recommendations”.
known recent exposure to an STI or recent use of PrEP or PEP. These changes mean more men who have sex with men will be eligible to donate – so now is the time to play your part! Anyone who has had anal sex or chemsex (excluding the use of Viagra and cannabis) with a new partner or with multiple partners in the last three months will not be able to give blood right now but may be eligible in the future. Donors who have recently been treated for gonorrhoea will be deferred. Anyone who has ever received treatment for syphilis will not be able to give blood. If you have been deferred because of previous guidelines and are unsure if you can now donate, please try our donor eligibility quiz on our website or give us a call on 08085 534 653. One of our team can review the new guidelines with you and, if eligible, book your appointment. If you would like to find out more about donating blood, please register to become a blood donor or book an appointment to donate by visiting www.nibts.org; texting “BLOOD” to 60081 or simply giving Northern Ireland Blood Transfusion a call on 08085 534 653.
Under the new changes, LGBTQIA people can donate if they have had the same sexual partner for the last three months or if they have a new sexual partner with whom they have not had anal sex. It is essential that there is no
SIXTY THREE // GNIMAG.COM
