The Association

Every blood donor and volunteer helper in Scotland is automatically a member of the Scottish National Blood Transfusion Association (SNBTA).The SNBTA is a charity, which, before the advent of the NHS, ran the blood collection service. Its main aim now is to represent and protect donor interests and promote the voluntary unpaid nature of blood and bone marrow donation. It does this by providing donors with an independent channel through which they can express their views and by funding the main donor awards. The SNBTA runs through an Executive Committee made up of donor representatives from across Scotland, clinicians and representatives of the blood transfusion service. The Committee meets four or five times a year to address topical matters of interest or concern ranging from donor services to ethical issues.

The donor representatives are there to listen to problems or helpful suggestions which donors wish to make in connection with all aspects of donating. Representatives serve for a maximum of six years on the committee, and the SNBTA welcomes volunteers for service on the committee.