A REVIEW is being held after concerns were raised over blood donation sessions in Dunfermline.

Heating issues at the Vine Conference Centre has resulted in two recent sessions being cancelled which left many donors out in the cold.

A local resident, who wished to remain anonymous, told the Press that they were turned away on April 4 by a practitioner who informed them that the hall was not warm enough to take blood.

This was the second cancellation in just over a month caused by low temperatures at the venue, on Garvock Hill.

The first was on March 7, when the venue's boiler broke the night before.

Vincent Mooney, Scottish National Blood Transfusion Service's head of donor services for Edinburgh and South-East Scotland, told the Press that a review into sourcing an alternative location for the sessions to take place was now under way.

He said: "Firstly, we want to apologise for any inconvenience caused to our Dunfermline donors.

"On Sunday, April 4, we had to cancel the Vine Conference Centre blood donation session. Unfortunately, this proved to be an exceptionally cold day and the six extra heaters we brought did not heat the hall up to a safe level for donors to give blood and the session was, therefore, cancelled.

"As this decision was made after the session was due to have started, we were unable to contact all donors before they left to attend the session. However, we sent text messages to all donors with mobile phones due to donate in the afternoon, telephoned those without a mobile phone number but with a landline number, and our staff waited behind to speak individually to any donor we had not been able to contact.

"This is never a decision we take lightly, as a huge amount of planning goes in to each and every session. The resulting cancellation not only reduces the blood we are able to pass on to the hospitals but disappoints and inconveniences our donors.

"However, it is important to note that despite the cancellation of the Dunfermline session on Easter Sunday, bloodstock levels across Scotland remained at safe levels due to the diligent work of our service and the commitment of our blood donors.

"We have had previous cancellations at that venue, inconveniencing our donors, much to our disappointment.

"The night before our Sunday, March 7 session, the venue’s boiler broke. We had a regulatory pre-session check with the venue on the Friday 5, but at this time the boilers were working – the situation only transpired when the janitor opened up the hall on the Sunday morning.

"Despite best efforts with our emergency heaters, the hall was too cold to hold the session and did not reach the required temperature. All donors were informed by text or phone call as soon as possible after the decision was made and staff were available at the session to speak to those already en route.

"We are currently reviewing the location of our blood collection venue within the Dunfermline area and will contact our donors once this has been completed.

"I would like to take this opportunity to thank all of our blood donors within the Dunfermline area for the many donations they have given in the past on behalf of those patients whose lives they have saved, and improved, by giving blood."

The Vine Conference Centre, which offered to host the sessions after they were moved from the Glen Pavilion, has been approached for comment.