Long-running campaign removes unnecessary barrier for blood donors, a victory for both patients and the blood donation service.

Patients receiving acupuncture from appropriately qualified practitioners will no longer have to wait four months before donating blood, following a change to UK blood donation guidance.

Until now, patients receiving regular acupuncture have been prevented from donating blood, despite being treated by practitioners working to professional standards using sterile, single-use needles.

Around four million acupuncture treatments are delivered in the UK every year, and many patients attend regular appointments throughout the year.

The Joint Professional Advisory Committee (JPAC), which advises the UK Blood Transfusion and Tissue Transplantation Services, has confirmed that, in the new rules, donors may be accepted following acupuncture when acupuncture has been carried out in premises that are appropriately registered, licensed or approved.

“For many people receiving regular acupuncture, the previous four-month deferral effectively meant they could never become regular blood donors. Removing this unnecessary restriction means people can continue receiving the healthcare they value while also helping to save lives through blood donation,” said Alex Jacobs, chief executive of the British Acupuncture Council (BAcC).

“This change reflects many years of constructive engagement and demonstrates the importance of high professional standards, rigorous training and strong regulation in protecting the public.”

Growing recognition

In a statement, the British Acupuncture Council said that it believes this decision reflects the growing recognition of acupuncture as a safe, evidence-informed healthcare profession delivered to high professional standards.

BAcC members meet the standards required by the Professional Standards Authority (PSA) Accredited Registers programme and complete a minimum of three years of degree-level training. Earlier this year, the PSA strengthened its accredited registers programme, bringing its regulatory standards into closer alignment with those expected of statutory healthcare regulators and further reinforcing public confidence in accredited practitioners.

The organisation carried out a nationwide survey of its membership base to gauge reaction to this announcement. The response has been overwhelmingly positive regarding the incoming removal of the “deferral on donating blood”, welcoming the impact this will have on both patients and practitioners. The survey clearly indicates that the deferral period led to treatment disruptions and forced patients to weigh their health needs against their desire to donate blood, resulting in a tangible impact on blood donation among patients.

“While the BAcC very much welcomes the removal of the deferral period, there remains a need for caution regarding the current definition of a qualified practitioner within the JPAC guidance. Equating this title with merely meeting local licensing requirements, which do not cover training standards or professional regulation, introduces unintended risks to public safety,” Jacobs added.

The BAcC is the only UK professional body that is accredited by the PSA and requires a minimum of three years of degree-level training.