Blood Donation – Exciting News!
We collaboration have done it again!
ARA are delighted to share important news about the Blood Transfusion Service and Acupuncture. As many of you know there has been a long battle back and forth with the regard to patients of non-statutory practitioners requiring a four month gap after acupuncture to enable them to give blood. In 2019, Tony Dickenson from the British Acupuncture Federation managed to gain agreement in principle from the Blood Transfusion Service to remove the four month gap. Since then, we have been providing evidence and working with other stakeholders of the Blood Transfusion Service (BTS) to gain exemption. Chris Davies has submitted our specialist evidence from six sources together with our Office for National Statistic (ONS) position in the healthcare professional group, which has managed to secure a new final agreement.
The Current Position
Only acupuncturists who are defined as healthcare professionals, i.e., are regulated by a statutory body such as the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC), can be included on the list of practitioners who are exempt from the four month wait.
What is the Next Stage
We have already achieved a huge landmark change in the UK and yet another change in legislation never accomplished before, however we still have some work to do. Our next stage is a further consultation with the health departments across the four nations and the approval of the MHRA (Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency). The ARA, AAC and BAF are now involved with this final stage as well as working with the key healthcare departments of the NHS to help facilitate this change as easily as possible. As usual we have not only arranged this to be possible for the ARA/BAF groups but also for other acupuncture associations. We obviously will keep all practitioners and groups updated.
What Does this Mean for me and my Patients
This does not mean that ARA/BAF Registrants are exempt today, but for the first time we have the agreements we have been fighting for and unless there is a sudden issue or unknown problem this should allow AAC members future exemption.
Please share out to any practitioner and other acupuncture groups you know.