How we communicate with you

The IBTS communicates with its donors in a number of different ways. This section explains how, why and when we will contact you.

Texting

Texting is the primary method of contact we use to communicate with donors – by consenting to receive texts; we can then keep you informed about upcoming clinics and any eligibility changes. You will receive the following texts:

What?When? ( all approx. dates)Why?
Date for your diary text7 days before the clinic in your areaTo advise you of the next clinic in your area
Clinic reminder text

On day 1 (of 1&2 day clinics)

On day 1&3 of (3&4 day clinics)

To send you a reminder on the days that

clinics are taking place.

Blood group specific textsOn the day of clinics

To ask donors of certain blood groups,

where stocks are low, to make a special effort to attend the clinic.

Appointment reminder texts

3 days before your appointment  

The day before your appointment

To allow you to reschedule your appointment if the date/time no longer suits and allow us to fill that appointment slot with another donor

To allow you to plan your attendance the following day.

Thank you textThe next working day after you attendTo thank you for taking the time and effort to attend our clinic, even if you did not get to donate.
Donation Issued textThe day after the blood product, made from your donation, is issued to a hospitalTo inform you that the time and effort you took to donate was worth it, and your donation is helping provide a life-saving gift to a patient in need.

Phone Calls

Some donors may be contacted where there is an urgent need for their specific blood group or type:

What?When?Why?

Neonatal Phone Call

(for donors whose blood is specifically suitable for very young babies)

Just prior to your next clinicNeonatal Donations have a use by date of only 5 days. We ring neonatal donors to attend our clinics on Mondays, Thursdays, Fridays and Sundays to ensure that we can provide a continuous supply of neonatal units to our Maternity Hospitals.
Intra-uterine Transfusion (IUT) Phone CallJust prior to the blood being needed to be transfused to the baby in the wombIn certain cases where there are complications in a pregnancy it is necessary to provide a transfusion for the baby in the womb. For that reason the donation must be as closely matched to the mother/baby as possible and means that only a small number of donors may match the required criteria.
Crossmatch Phone CallJust prior to the blood being needed by a specific patientThis is where we have an order to provide blood that is crossmatched for a specific patient. In these cases there are only a limited number of donors that match the required criteria.
Specific blood group callsJust prior to your next clinicIn case of shortages of specific blood groups, we may contact some blood group specific donors asking to attend upcoming clinics
Returning phone calls / voicemailsAfter receiving and missing a phone call from donorsTo return donor missed calls or voicemails

Post and digital communications

What?When?Why?
PostInfrequently to send promotional mail about blood donation and correspondence re medical mattersTo provide you with up-to-date information on blood donation and to communicate with you following a clinic visit.
EmailInfrequently to respond to donor queries, communicate about research projects and keep donors up-to-date about new developmentsTo answer your queries, ask for your input in research projects and send you an ezine
Contact usThis is initiated by donors and via contactus@ibts.ie on our website or via our Donor Information Line 1850 731137To facilitate donors asking general questions about blood donation or specific questions about their eligibility to donate or provide feedback/comments on their blood donation experience or suggestions on how we can improve our service to donors.
Social mediaSocial media platforms are monitored and updated Monday to FridayTo communicate with donors via Facebook and Twitter, sharing inspirational stories about donors and patients and general information on blood donation.