BLOOD donations in Basingstoke have relocated from a community centre to a four-star hotel because it is cheaper.

NHS Blood and Transplant used to hold its blood donation sessions at Carnival Hall, in Council Road, Basingstoke.

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A spokesperson said it has now changed the location to The Apollo Hotel, in Aldermaston Road, Popley - because of the “lower venue cost”.

However, a volunteer at Carnival Hall, said the committee has not been informed of this change.

Kishor Patel, a volunteer at Carnival Hall, said: “As far as we know we are waiting for them to come back to us.”

He said the last time the blood donor sessions were held at Carnival Hall there was an overflow issue in one of the toilets, adding: “They haven’t been back since. They book us when they are ready and it depends on blood donation demands.

“But nothing has been communicated with us, we haven’t received any information about them not coming back. We have been in direct communication with them and they haven’t said that’s the case.”

The spokesperson for NHS Blood and Transplant said Carnival Hall will “remain on our system as an alternative venue should The Apollo Hotel be unavailable on a particular day”.

He added: “Blood donation sessions in Basingstoke used to be held at Carnival Hall however now take place at The Apollo Hotel due to the lower venue costs.

“We’re always looking to keep costs as low as possible for the benefit of the NHS.”

The spokesperson said that the overflowing toilet did not contribute to the decision to change venue and confirmed that blood collected at the clinic on that day was not contaminated, after a member of the public raised concerns about this. 

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