Jen1977ni

I've given blood since I was 18 and am due to give today, I changed my facebook status accordingly and to my horror I've found out that I am not allowed to give in Oz because I've lived in the UK and might have 'the dreaded lurgy' - GUTTED!!! I always considered it to be my doing my bit for society...bummer!

http://www.donateblood.com.au/

I can’t give blood as I lived in the United Kingdom for six months during the period 1980-1996. When will a test for vCJD be developed?

Although the number of cases of vCJD (the human form of 'mad cow disease') in the UK is declining, in the absence of a screening test, the full extent of exposure is not known.

The Australian Red Cross Blood Service is monitoring progress in the development of a reliable blood screening test for vCJD. Should this deferral policy be changed for any reason, please be assured that this information will be disseminated widely. For more information click here....

sonlymewalter

However you can give your organs if you die

Steve G

Nobody would want my organ!!

sonlymewalter

It's not working anyway. You look too blue to me

SillyOldBag

Would they take a piano instead?

Back OT though, I was quite taken aback as well to find that I couldn't give blood, although secretly (although not so secretly now that I'm writing it on an internet forum! ) relieved as I'm a big girly woose when it comes to blood.

sonlymewalter

And there's a shortage of blood too

Jen1977ni

Tis a b*gger eh...I aint no lurgy carrier! GRRR

moneypenny20

My youngest was born in Feb 1995. Unless they develop a test for vCJD she will never be able to give blood, seems slightly daft especially as I don't think I was feeding her pureed cow. It must affect a fair few Australians and other nationals as well considering how many backpackers the UK gets.

Fill out the organ donation card and realise that you're still doing more than a lot of people who either can't or won't do that much. I feel quite strongly that organ donation should be obligatory and you should have to opt out rather than the current system but I'm not in charge so there you go.

Jen1977ni

Yeah, it should be part of your driving license etc, if you're an adult! I haven't eaten any beef/red meat for at least 15 years...but hey ho, they wont take my word for it!

squeezzii

I find it really annoying that we cant give blood-there are plenty of other things to worry about-and lets be honest- the chances of contacting CJD is virtually nil- the bloody australians stand a much greater chance of dying because thier 'true blue' fellow countrymen cant be arsed to donate!

moneypenny20

The USA, Canada and NZ (and probably others) also ban anyone who lived for only 3 or 6 months in the UK and France and to a lesser extent the rest of Europe during the same 16 year period. Unfortunately I don't think any country in the world has the amount of blood they require. I think people generally just don't consider it but when a call goes out after an emergency, a lot of those who wouldn't normally do go forward and they end up with enough.

No idea how you convince many people they should. It only gets on many people's wave length when they know someone who's needed a transfusion.

Kim67

One of my mother-in-law's best friends has lived in Australia for 20 years - lost her husband a few years back and decided to go home to the UK. She's just been diagnosed with vCJD.

moneypenny20

That's awful. Sincere sympathies to her. Do they have any idea if it was recently contracted or just carried since before she moved out here?

scottishcelts

You trying to tell me you're sane? -

Jen1977ni

Defo lolololol