In view of World Blood Donor Day being marked on 14th June there are an increasing number of blood donor sessions being advertised locally in the English Language and Spanish press. As such expatriates should be aware of restrictions placed by the BOE’s Royal Decree (in Spanish).
Grounds for exclusion include any citizen, regardless of nationality, who spent over 12 months living in the UK between 1980 and 1996, due to risks derived from the so called Mad Cow Disease (Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease).
Of course the restriction would mainly apply to British expats so if you are considering attending such a session you must make the staff aware of your situation.
More information is available on the Ministry of Health’s website https://www.msssi.gob.es/profesionales/saludPublica/medicinaTransfusional/donarsangre.htm” Each regions government will have instructions. Best to google ‘donar sangre’ and add your province or town.
Alternatively you could speak to your local representative of the Red Cross who’s blood donation site can be found at http://www.donarsangre.org/
