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 text | 7 days before the clinic in your area | To 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 texts | On 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 text | The next working day after you attend | To thank you for taking the time and effort to attend our clinic, even if you did not get to donate. |
| Donation Issued text | The day after the blood product, made from your donation, is issued to a hospital | To 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 clinic | Neonatal 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 Call | Just prior to the blood being needed to be transfused to the baby in the womb | In 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 Call | Just prior to the blood being needed by a specific patient | This 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 calls | Just prior to your next clinic | In case of shortages of specific blood groups, we may contact some blood group specific donors asking to attend upcoming clinics |
| Returning phone calls / voicemails | After receiving and missing a phone call from donors | To return donor missed calls or voicemails |
Post and digital communications
| What? | When? | Why? |
| Post | Infrequently to send promotional mail about blood donation and correspondence re medical matters | To provide you with up-to-date information on blood donation and to communicate with you following a clinic visit. |
| Infrequently to respond to donor queries, communicate about research projects and keep donors up-to-date about new developments | To answer your queries, ask for your input in research projects and send you an ezine | |
| Contact us | This is initiated by donors and via contactus@ibts.ie on our website or via our Donor Information Line 1850 731137 | To 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 media | Social media platforms are monitored and updated Monday to Friday | To communicate with donors via Facebook and Twitter, sharing inspirational stories about donors and patients and general information on blood donation. |
