Acupuncture Patients Rejoice! No More Waiting Period to Donate Blood in the UK

Great news for acupuncturists and blood donors alike! After a relentless five-year campaign, the Association of Acupuncture Clinicians (AAC) and the British Acupuncture Federation (BAF) have successfully challenged the Blood Transfusion Service’s policy regarding acupuncture and blood donation.

Previously, patients in the UK had to wait a daunting four months after receiving acupuncture before they could donate blood. The AAC and BAF, however, disagreed with this regulation. They spent years gathering evidence and building a strong legal case, presenting it to the five key departments that needed to approve a change.

Their tireless efforts have finally paid off! All the relevant departments have agreed that the waiting period is unnecessary and will be removed. While the exact implementation date within the NHS is still to be confirmed, the principle change has been secured.

This is a significant victory for both acupuncture patients and the NHS blood bank. It removes a barrier for potential blood donors and acknowledges the safety and hygiene standards of acupuncture practices in the UK.

The AAC and BAF deserve a huge round of applause! We’ll keep you updated on the official implementation timeframe within the NHS.

Chris Davies