The citizen response to the call to donate blood after the Urda railway accident has led the Community of Madrid to ask that those who still wish to collaborate go from Thursday, October 29 or during the following days.
The regional president, Isabel Díaz Ayuso, conveyed that recommendation during Wednesday afternoon after the high influx to the donation points. The message maintains the need to collaborate, but asks to spread the visits out over time.
For those looking for how to help, the most useful information now is when to go, which point is closest to them, and what indications the health service maintains. Sharing only the urgent first-hour appeal can leave out the later update.
What has changed with respect to the morning notice
The Madrid Transfusion Center initially made an urgent request in view of the possible increase in care needs due to the accident. During the afternoon, the response received prompted the recommendation to go the next day and in the following days.
This request should not be interpreted as meaning that blood is no longer needed. Collaboration is being organized to maintain the supply beyond the first hours of the emergency.
It is also advisable to avoid turning a list of blood groups circulated in the morning into a fixed priority for the whole week. Needs may change and must be checked in the notices from the Transfusion Center.
Where to consult Madrid donation points
The official blood donation page of the Community of Madrid brings together hospital points, mobile units and collaborating centers. It allows you to check the location and information of each place before organizing the trip.
Among the options are the Transfusion Center, the mobile units and the Cruz Roja room on Juan Montalvo street. The hospitals have their own hours: it should not be assumed that all receive donors during the same time slot.
For Thursday, October 29, an additional option is the marathon at Hospital Gregorio Marañón, previously scheduled for the 28th and 29th. The hospital announced two spaces: the usual room of the Médico-Quirúrgico and the extraction room of the Hospital Oncológico, both on the ground floor.
Published schedules: what to check before leaving
DEMÓCRATA · SERVICE INFORMATION
Donate blood in Madrid
| Point | Schedule and information |
|---|---|
| Gran Vía with Montera | Published hours: Monday to Friday, 11:00–20:45; Saturdays and Sundays, 10:00–20:45. |
| Cruz Roja · Juan Montalvo, 3 | Monday to Friday, 09:00–20:30, except holidays. |
| Centro de Transfusión · Valdebernardo | Published opening: 08:30. Confirm closing time: the official pages indicate 21:00 or 21:30 Monday to Saturday on non-holidays. Information: 900 30 35 30. |
| Other hospitals and mobile units | Check official location and schedule. |
The above schedules come from the regional directory. In the case of Valdebernardo, there is a discrepancy between official pages: some indicate 21:30 and others 21:00. For a late visit, it is advisable to confirm by calling the free donor information line, 900 30 35 30.
How to prepare to donate
Going with the intention to help does not replace the health assessment. Staff review, through a questionnaire and an interview, whether the donation can be carried out safely.
Hospital Clínico San Carlos reminds that an official identification document must be brought, that one should not go on an empty stomach, and that illnesses, treatments, procedures, or trips that may be relevant must be reported. The final decision on eligibility rests with the health professional.
If you have already donated recently, it is worth checking before traveling. The emergency does not eliminate the donor's intervals or safety conditions.
Madrid and Castilla-La Mancha have different notices
The recommendation to spread out visits in Madrid should not be automatically transferred to the centers in Castilla-La Mancha. Each service organizes its needs and its collection points.
The Sescam directory makes it possible to locate the fixed points in the region. Among the cities with centers are Toledo, Ciudad Real, Alcázar de San Juan, Albacete, Cuenca and Guadalajara, according to the information on the appeal disseminated by Sanidad.
Before sharing a message in family or friends groups, it is advisable to check its date, territory and source. Help can be maintained during the next few days by choosing a nearby point and following its instructions, without concentrating all trips in a single center.