"The focus of The Rainbow Project will now turn to encouraging all those people who are now eligible to register as blood donors.
Until now, men who had been in a same-sex relationship had to wait for a year after their last sexual activity before donating blood before the rule was eventually reduced to three months.ĭirector of LGBTQ support group The Rainbow Project, John O'Doherty, said: "Donating blood is not a right, but a civic responsibility on all of us who are eligible to do so.” It’s after the move, which has already been implemented in other parts of the UK, had previously been delayed due to staffing and training issues which prevented the change from taking place in June.Įveryone will be asked the same questions on health, travel and sexual behaviour regardless of their gender or sexual orientation, the NI Blood Transfusion Service said. Men who have been in a same-sex relationship with one partner for more than three months will be able to donate in a move that will result in an increase in eligible blood donors, the NI Blood Transfusion Service said. A deferral period refers to a waiting time before a man can. But new rules in England, Scotland and Wales mean that anyone who has had the same sexual. If you are in good health, and qualify for other eligibility guidelines, you can donate blood regardless of. Before now, any male donor who'd had sex with another man in the previous three months couldn't give blood.
And you are never too old to donate blood.
16 year-old donors, however, must present a signed permission form from their parent or a guardian before the blood donation. A change to blood donation rules for gay and bisexual men in Northern Ireland will be implemented from Monday. The ability for MSMs (men who have sex with men) to donate blood or tissue for organ transplants. OneBlood welcomes blood donations from donors 16 years old and older. Men are currently eligible to give blood if it has been more than three months since their last sexual contact with another man.