November 7, 2011 | Sex & Society

UK's lifetime ban on blood ends today

As of today, gay men are no longer permanently banned from giving blood in the UK.

The Department of Health announced the changes in September, replacing the full ban with a one-year deferral period instead. England, Wales and Scotland all adopted the new policy, allowing men who have had sex with men to give blood as long as it has been 12 months since their last encounter.

Northern Ireland is still exploring the issue, though seems unlikely to relax its rules any time soon.

"The reason for this exclusion rests on specific sexual behaviour, such as anal and oral sex. The decision is not based on sexuality or orientation, only specific actions. The IBTS has a responsibility to ensure that there is a sufficient supply of safe blood to meet the needs of patients," a spokesman for the Irish Blood Transfusion Service (IBTS) said.

Dr Lorna Williamson, NHS Blood and Transplant’s medical and research director, explained how updating the rules makes sense. “Our priority as a blood service is to provide a safe and sufficient supply of blood for patients," she said. "This change gives us an opportunity to broaden our donor acceptance on the basis of the latest scientific evidence."

Gay groups in the UK see the change as a step in the right direction, but say that it still unfairly targets gay men.

“To retain a blanket ban on any man who has had sex with another man in the last year, even if he has only had oral sex, remains disproportionate on the basis of available evidence,” argued Ben Summerskill, chief executive of Stonewall.

Lifetime blood donation ban for gay men lifted today [PinkNews]

New UK blood rules for gay men in effect [Irish Health]