Three blood groups in the Canary Islands are down to one or two days — where to donate now

Why the reserves fell

The authority names three reasons: the heat, the long weekend around the pilgrimage to the Virgen del Pino on 8 September, and higher consumption through emergencies. There is no question of operations being cancelled: Francisco Javier Rodríguez Sosa, director general for Hemodonación y Hemoterapia at the Servicio Canario de la Salud since October 2025, said on 3 September, according to Canarias7, that no procedure had been postponed in July or August. The same paper reported on 11 September that several groups had already recovered to emergency level after the appeal.

Who may donate — the rules at a glance

Basic conditions (Canary blood bank, efectodonacion.com): 18 to 65 years old, no more than 60 for a first donation; over 50 kilograms; good general health; not pregnant. Checked on the spot are blood pressure (90–165/50–95 mm Hg), pulse (50–110) and haemoglobin (men above 13.5, women above 12.5). You should not arrive fasting.

Intervals: men up to four whole-blood donations a year, women up to three, at least 60 days apart; plasma 15 days and at most 24 donations a year; platelets 48 hours.

Temporary exclusions: four months after a tattoo, piercing or acupuncture; no donation during pregnancy and for six months from the birth, including while breastfeeding; after a miscarriage or termination, depending on how far the pregnancy had gone; one week after minor and four months after major surgery; one month after travel outside Europe, four months for malaria or Chagas areas, usually no deferral within Europe; people with insulin-treated diabetes not at all, those on diet or tablets yes. Medicines and vaccinations are decided by the staff — declare everything.

ID, the NIE and the British rule

The published conditions do not require a health card, but an official identity document is always needed; which one the Canaries accept is stated nowhere — the Centro de Transfusión of the Comunidad Valenciana names DNI, NIE, passport or driving licence, and in case of doubt there is 900 234 061. It also matters that you understand the pre-donation interview fully; anyone unsure of their Spanish should bring someone who can translate.

The second question is about the United Kingdom. For decades, anyone who had spent a total of more than twelve months in the UK between 1980 and 1996 was barred from donating in Spain — a precaution against variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease. That rule no longer applies. In the fourth edition of the Guía de Criterios Básicos para la Selección de Donantes de Sangre y Componentes issued by the Ministerio de Sanidad (2026), time spent in the UK no longer figures among the grounds for exclusion; what remains a permanent exclusion there is having received a dura mater, cornea, sclera or other ocular tissue graft, or having been treated before the year 2000 with growth hormone or other gonadotropins derived from human pituitary glands. The basis is a report by the Comité Científico para la Seguridad Transfusional of June 2025. The Centro de Transfusión of the Comunidad Valenciana states plainly that people who were transfused in the UK then may donate again as well.

On 12 September 2026, however, the FAQ page of the Canary blood bank still carried the old wording. If it is raised with you, cite the current national guideline or call ahead rather than staying at home.

The fixed donation points on every island

As published by the Canary blood bank on efectodonacion.com on 12 September 2026. All points are closed on public holidays.

Tenerife. Santa Cruz, C/ Méndez Núñez 14, corner of Pí y Margall: Mon–Fri 9.15am–8.30pm (922 476 479). Hospital Universitario Nuestra Señora de la Candelaria, floor 0: Mon–Fri 8am–8pm, Sat 9am–1pm (922 602 060). La Laguna, Hospital Universitario de Canarias, floor 0 behind the main hall: Sun–Fri and holidays 8.30am–9.30pm, Sat 8.30am–2.30pm and 3.30–8pm (922 678 670). Granadilla de Abona, Centro de Salud San Isidro, C/ Arguayoda 2: Mon–Fri 10am–1.30pm and 2.15–7.30pm (677 980 518). La Orotava, Multicentro El Trompo: Mon–Fri 10.15am–1.45pm and 5.15–8.30pm. Hospital San Juan de Dios: Mon–Fri 10.30am–12.30pm, by appointment only (922 645 511, ext. 463). Puerto de la Cruz, Hospiten Bellevue, C/ Alemania 6: Mon–Fri 11am–1.30pm and 3–5.30pm, by appointment only (922 385 235, option 1).

Gran Canaria. Las Palmas, C/ Alfonso XIII 4, donors' entrance: Mon–Fri 9.15am–8.15pm, appointments on 012 or 928 301 012 (option 8). Hospital Universitario Insular, floor 0, Avda. Marítima del Sur: Mon–Sat 10am–7.30pm (928 441 163). Hospital Universitario Materno Infantil, floor 3, Edificio del Mar: Mon–Fri 10.30am–1.30pm (928 308 581). Hospital Universitario Doctor Negrín, Barranco de La Ballena: Mon–Fri 8.30am–7.30pm (928 449 451). Santa Lucía de Tirajana, annexe of the Centro de Salud de Vecindario, C/ Guatiza: Mon–Wed 5.15–8.15pm, Thu–Fri 10.15am–1.15pm. San Bartolomé de Tirajana, Hospiten Roca San Agustín, C/ Buganvilla 1: Fri 8am–2pm, by appointment only (928 730 362, option 3).

The other islands. Fuerteventura: Hospital General, Carretera del Aeropuerto km 1, Puerto del Rosario, Mon–Fri 11am–1.30pm, appointment advised (928 546 684). Lanzarote: Hospital Universitario Doctor José Molina Orosa, Carretera de Tinajo km 1, Arrecife, Mon–Fri 9am–1pm (928 595 572, option 3). La Palma: Hospital Universitario de La Palma, C/ Buenavista de Arriba, Breña Alta, Mon–Thu 10am–8pm, Fri 10am–3pm, Sat 10am–5pm, Sun 1–8pm (922 185 312 and 922 185 320). La Gomera: Hospital Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe, C/ El Langrero, San Sebastián, Mon–Wed 11am–1pm, Thu–Fri 9am–1pm (922 140 200). El Hierro: Hospital Insular Nuestra Señora de los Reyes, C/ Barriales 1, Valverde, Mondays 10am–12.30pm (690 886 059).

The mobile teams, 14 to 18 September 2026

This list applies only to the week of Monday 14 to Friday 18 September 2026 and is out of date after that. The timetable changes weekly; the Dirección General de Hemodonación y Hemoterapia publishes it every Friday on efectodonacion.com, where the valid version always stands. The dates below come from the notice of 11 September 2026.

Tenerife. Santa Cruz, Plaza del Príncipe: Mon 10am–2.15pm and 5–9.15pm, Tue 9.30am–2.15pm and 4.30–9.15pm. Santa Úrsula, next to the town hall: Mon 10.30am–1.45pm and 4–8.45pm. La Victoria, La Pólvora: Tue 10.15am–1.45pm and 5–8.30pm. La Matanza, Mercadillo del Agricultor: Wed 10.15am–1.45pm and 5–8.45pm. Santa Cruz, town hall offices in Ofra: Wed 9.45am–1.45pm. Guía de Isora, Plaza del Llano in Alcalá: Wed 5.45–8pm and Thu 10.45am–2pm and 4.45–8pm. La Laguna, beside the cathedral: Fri 10am–1.45pm and 5–8.15pm.

Gran Canaria. Arucas, C/ Fernando Caubín: Mon–Fri 10am–1.45pm and 5–8.45pm; Plaza de Cardones: Mon and Tue 5–8.45pm; Plaza de la iglesia de Santidad: Fri 18 September, 10am–1.45pm and 5–8.45pm. Centro Comercial Alcampo: Mon, Tue and Thu 9.30am–2pm. Centro Comercial La Minilla, by the car park: Wed and Thu 9.30am–2pm and 4.30–9pm. Vithas Las Palmas, day hospital: Thu 9.30am–2pm.

The other islands. Fuerteventura: Centro Comercial Las Rotondas, Mon–Wed 4.30–8.30pm and Thu 9.30am–1.30pm. Lanzarote: Centro Comercial Deiland, Wed and Thu 4.30–8.30pm, Fri 9.30am–1.30pm. La Gomera: at the XV Gomera Paradise Sky Race in San Sebastián, Thu and Fri 4.30–9.15pm, Sat 9.30am–1.45pm. Special hours apply this weekend already: Hospital Universitario de Canarias on Sunday 8.30am–9.30pm, Hospital Universitario Insular on Saturday 10am–7.30pm, Hospital Doctor Negrín on Saturday 9.30am–2pm.