A DONOR who has given blood more than 100 times in the last three and a half decades has criticised a decision to withdraw the use of a local anaesthetic when donating.

Chris Fisher began donating as a way of giving something back after he suffered a bad hand injury when he was 18 which required him to have a blood transfusion.

The 55-year-old, of Town Lane, Idle, has been a familiar face at the Rawson Road blood donor centre in Bradford city centre. It was there shortly before Christmas that he learned of the latest decision by the NHS blood service, which is to take effect in April.

He said: "I was told the last time I went to give blood that this would be the last time I could have the local anaesthetic and is was being removed to cut costs.

"Every time I've given blood I've always had the anaesthetic. The one time I didn't I passed out twice on the bed.

"They used to offer it to you, and in the last year or so, you've had to ask for it.

"That needle is huge, it's like putting a pipe in your arm, so I need the anaesthetic and I don't know what to do now."

"It could also put people off wanting to donate," he added.

Mr Fisher, who is a carer for his parents, has received recognition for his regular blood and platelet donations, which together have reached more than 180 occasions.

After complaining he was handed a letter explaining the decision to remove the option of using a local anaesthetic injection.

It states that the registered nurse in charge of the blood donor sessions is required to administer the anaesthetic and that requests have dropped off in recent years so the move would only a affect a small portion of donors.

"As the number of donors requesting Lidocaine has significantly reduced over the past few years it has become increasingly difficult to both maintain the supply system and the expert skill levels needed by our registered nurses to administer it.

"According to our records, this change will affect a small proportion of our donors (approximately one per cent) and create a cost saving of £30,000 per year.

"In addition, our donation teams have been working with many donors, successfully developing and trialling venepuncture related coping measures, enabling donation without the need for local anaesthetic.

"As a result of this work, we have seen a continuing decline in requests for Lidocaine, without compromising the comfort of our donors during their donation."

A spokesman from NHS Blood and Transplant said: “NHS Blood and Transplant has ceased the practice of providing local anaesthesia to blood donors before venepuncture. This brings us into line with the practice of the other UK blood services.

“We will continue to provide donors with the expert care we have nurtured within our blood donation teams and will be offering support and advice about coping and distraction measures to the around one in a hundred donors affected by this change.”

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