City nurses want ban on gay men donating blood lifted

THE blanket ban on gay men giving blood is discriminatory and should be lifted, city nurses have said.

Currently, any man who has had sex with another man is not allowed to donate for fear of his blood being contaminated with the HIV virus.

This policy stems from higher rates of the disease among gay men than any other cross section of society, a problem that is particularly bad in the Lothians, with indications it could be getting worse.

However, the Scottish Royal College of Nursing - based in Edinburgh - said an individual's lifestyle should be considered, rather than their sexuality.

Director Theresa Fyffe said: "Our members have voted to lobby for the ban on gay and bisexual men donating blood to be lifted because it was felt that the current blanket discrimination was unjustified.

"They felt it was important to look at the risk of individual behaviours, not just those of gay and bisexual men."