West End Donor Centre

As someone who hadn’t given blood for a while, I was desperate to get back in the system and as luck would have it, a rare appointment for 6.30pm came up and I jumped at the chance to give an arm full! On arrival the receptionist was extremely welcoming and when I mentioned to her that my veins have a habit of seeing a needle and running in the opposite direction, she made a note on my record. The centre is extremely well run and managed with a separate room to go over the medical questions and do the prick test to check you are all ok to give blood.
The actual donation itself was straight forward and the team are lovely. I built up quite a rapport with them and was thoroughly looked after. They had no trouble finding my vein… which is a miracle! My donation was done in less than 5 minutes, which I’m told is quick seeing as I had not donated in so long. They were great and carried my very heavy handbag down to the refreshment area where they had plenty of gluten-​free snacks available. The lady asked me if I’d like to book my second appointment there and then, so I’m all scheduled in for my next donation. I was soon on my way home and grateful that to the staff at the West End centre for doing such a great job.

I’ve donated blood here a few times now and although often over running and therefore have to wait even though I’ve booked an appointment the staff are very friendly. There are also plenty of seats, TVs, drinks and snacks available before and after donation.
This is the only permanent donation centre I have been to and compared with the pop up places it is a far better experience. They open until 7 most nights and although it is hard to get an evening appointment a few weeks in advance it is located close by to my work so I can pop out at lunch.
The décor inside is bright and light — not an old school hall or hospital room feel which makes the whole donation experience much better.
Friendly knowledgeable staff provide a great atmosphere that makes the whole being stabbed with a needle a little less painful!

Its always a wait with them, but they are super nice about it. Also free biscuits and if you are the healthy sort, they also offer fruit.

I always love giving blood here. The nurses are all so nice and kind. They seem to remember me every time I come in :)
Although there can be a wait during the busy periods but it has never been too long for me.
Also the drinks and snacks make you feel so much better about yourself, you could easily spend the rest of the day in there just chatting, eating crisps and watching TV :)
Enjoy.

The staff are organised well trained and happy. Many different demeanours and I like a chat so sometimes the quiet ones dislike me. Today we spoke about one direction, my awkward directions veins and I got to hold my blood bag! I was allowed ten years ago too. Its so warm (sorry squimish folk)
The design is fit for purpose. Come in sign in on the right. Fill out usual questionnaire, drink some water (compulsory pint) and top up on sugar, some biscuits and fruit provided.
FODMAP note… They for the first time ever had wheat free option. Mrs crumble macaroons were provided. I was impressed! Along with usual yummy biscuits and cheap crisps.
Thenyou go into the room check your iron levels… This is a permanent donation centre. So no screens here! Actual rooms to talk over the medical questions etc.
Then you wait. (toilet on the right from all the water)
Then you are seen. They have the new chairs with the dipped bottom which swing back. They’re super comfy but very much designed for taller people… As is everything.
Then you complete have a tea. And some more sugary snacks and off out full circle.
Very good.
Summary… Built for. purpose and it shows. Never feels. like they are playing catch up unlike the mobile Hall set ups.
Very clean feel but not. too hospitality.

This is by far the best donor place I’ve been to, and have been going here now for a year.
Bonus for me is that it’s open until 7:30 Monday to Thursday and 5:30 on Friday. It’s only 10 minutes for me to get there from work and it means that I don’t have to take time from my work day to do it.
It is a walk in centre but you’ll find that a lot of the more convenient time slots are filled up weeks in advance, and they just don’t have the capacity for more people. If you want to donate, I suggest you go online and book a slot to avoid disappointment (talking about you, Mr ‘I’m so important that you need to take my blood now and why can’t you make space for me instead of all these people who actually made a plan to be here’).
The staff are friendly and professional, they do have trainees here but you’ll always be asked if it’s okay before they ‘practice’ on you, you can always go for the expert option. I have a good vein so normally go for the trainee (better to let them train, right?) but one poor girl had to try 4 times before she got it right…
With it being a permanent centre, it’s well laid out and they can take 7 people at a time, there’s always someone manning the recovery area, and you can arrange your next appointment while you’re there.
Always amusing to see people faint, especially when they were asking for it (I’ve seen a couple of friends racing to fill their bags, ended with both passing out…).

The West End Donor Centre is right by Oxford Circus station and so is really convenient to get to, which is great if like me you don’t always know where you’re going to be in advance to make an appointment somewhere near home or work. That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t make an appointment if you want to give blood here though — in fact you’re pretty unlikely to be able to walk in and donate so go online first.
The staff here are lovely and one of them explained to me that they’re the lead centre in the «interval study» being carried out among blood donors to work out what is the optimal time between donations and if individuals should have different intervals.
An appointment can take up to 1h30 if they are busy but remember your reward is biscuits and all the squash you can drink! Oh also possibly saving someone’s life, which is pretty great.