Southwark Liberal Democrat leader Hamish McCallum has urged other gay and bisexual men to give blood after NHS Blood and Transplant announced historic eligibility changes.
On June 14, coinciding with World Blood Donation day, the service confirmed that more gay and bisexual men would now be able to give blood, plasma and platelets.
Anyone who has had the same sexual partner for the last three months will now be eligible to donate.
Donors will also no longer be asked if they are a man who has had sex with another man.
Instead, any individual who attends, regardless of their gender, will be asked if they have had sex and, if so, about recent sexual behaviours.
Anyone who has had anal sex with a new partner or with multiple partners in the last three months will be not be able to donate blood but may be eligible later on.
Ella Poppitt, Chief Nurse for Blood Donation at NHS Blood and Transplant, said: “Patient safety is at the heart of everything we do.
“This change is about switching around how we assess the risk of exposure to a sexual infection, so it is more tailored to the individual.
“We screen all donations for evidence of significant infections, which goes hand-in-hand with donor selection to maintain the safety of blood sent to hospitals.
“All donors will now be asked about sexual behaviours which might have increased their risk of infection, particularly recently acquired infections.
“This means some donors might not be eligible on the day but may be in the future.
“Our priority is to make sure that donors are able to answer the pre-donation questions in a setting that makes them feel comfortable and safe and donation is something that continues to make people feel amazing.
“Our staff have been trained to make sure these more personal conversations are conducted with care and sensitivity and accurate information is captured.
“We are asking all blood, plasma and platelet donors to please consider the new questions alongside the existing health and travel questions before their appointment, and to reschedule if they do not meet the changed criteria to donate right now.
“We want donation to be a positive experience and we are looking forward to welcoming donors as we move forward with these changes.”
Cllr McCallum told the News: “I was delighted to be allowed to give blood following these rule changes, so I booked an appointment to donate as soon as I could.
“This donation can quite literally save someone’s life and I would encourage other gay, bisexual and men who have sex with men to check whether the rule changes mean that they too can now donate. If so, do something amazing: give blood!”
Although the changes have been welcomed by campaigners, organisations such as the National Aids Trust say there are still exclusionary criteria which unnecessarily bar much-needed donors from coming forward.
Deborah Gold, Chief Executive of National AIDS Trust, said: “Disappointingly, there’s still a three-month restriction on donating blood for anyone in England who has slept with someone from parts of the world where HIV and AIDS are ‘very common’.
“This criteria is vague, perpetuates misleading stereotypes around HIV and also disproportionately impacts on black people in the UK, particularly those of black African backgrounds.
“Although this has now been removed in Scotland and Wales – and the government’s own independent expert advisors say this criteria is unnecessary and recommended amending it – the Department of Health and Social Care in England has decided not to remove this unfair criteria.
“As we mark World Blood Donor Day we call on the government to reconsider its decision and allow more people to donate much-needed blood.
“If it is unwilling to do so, it should provide clear reasons why it has decided not to, against current scientific advice.”
