Blood donation boost as gay and bisexual men join blood drive

Stay up to date with notifications from The IndependentNotifications can be managed in browser preferences.Jump to contentThank you for registeringPlease refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged inAllNewsSportCultureLifestyleA new survey reveals a significant increase in blood donations from gay and bisexual men across England. This rise follows the introduction of new eligibility rules in 2021, which broadened donor criteria in England, Scotland, and Wales. Recent polling of 8,744 male donors showed that 7.5 per cent identified as gay, bisexual, or other non-heterosexual orientations, up from 1.8 per cent in a comparable 2014 survey. The 2021 rule change moved from a blanket deferral for men who had sex with men to an individualised assessment based on health, travel, and sexual behaviours. NHS Blood and Transplant and the UK Health Security Agency confirm that the more inclusive assessment has not compromised blood safety, while charities welcome the increased donations. In fullMore gay and bisexual men are donating blood in England after ‘landmark’ rulingThank you for registeringPlease refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in

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