Managing your information
When you first come to donate blood, we will store your information on the blood donor register. This information is needed so that we can trace blood products. If you give your permission, we will also use the information to send you invitations and up-to-date information about blood donation.
Invitation to donate blood
The Blood Service invites blood donors to donate blood in accordance with the need for blood. In order for us to reach you when it matters, it’s important that we have your current contact information! It’s really helpful if you are able to donate when you are invited to do so.
Of course, you are also welcome to donate blood even without an invitation. Donations from approximately 800 blood donors are needed Monday to Friday all year round.
How to give permission for invitations and information
When you come to donate blood, please remember to check and update your contact information with the nurse.
You can also give permission for invitations and information by calling the free blood donor info line: (+358) (0)800 0 5801 (Mon-Fri, 8.00am-5.00pm).
SMS invitation
As we mostly invite donors via SMS messages, we hope that you will give us permission to send you text messages. We invite blood donors to all of our donation sites for various reasons, such as the availability of appointment times and the levels of blood products we currently hold.
Receive a newsletter by E-mail
We also contact blood donors by E-mail to invite them for blood donation. Please check that we have your valid E-mail address! E-mail is a quick and inexpensive way to invite blood donors.
You will also receive a newsletter for blood donors three to four times a year. The newsletter contains information about the current blood reserves, any changes in our donor practices, and other current news.
Invitation via telephone
We invite donors by phone when blood is urgently needed, for example for a specific patient, or when there are plenty of free appointments in our appointment calendar.
Some of our regular donors have also given us permission to make more specific requests regarding their blood. We invite these donors by telephone when there is a patient who needs a particular blood product. Please ensure that we have your current phone number so we can invite you to donate blood precisely when your help is most needed.
A postcard or letter invitation acts as a helpful reminder
We may send you a postcard or letter to let you know about blood donation events taking place in your local area and any changes in blood donation practices.
Withdrawing permission for invitations and information
If you wish to withdraw your permission for invitations and information, or change how you receive invitations, please call our free donor information helpline on +358 (0)800 05801 (weekdays from 8.00am to 5.00pm), or let us know at a donation point.
Storage of blood donor data
The Blood Service is legally obligated to collect and store blood donors’ personal data for a duration specified by law. All blood donors’ data is stored on a donor register maintained by the Blood Service.
You can read more about the data we collect and how we store data in the privacy policy for the blood donor register.