CyprusLiving

Dated 14 October - I have copied the information:

The blood bank at Paphos General is virtually empty - all operations except emergencies are cancelled. Please, go there and give blood - you could save a life.

My friend should have gone into the Blue Cross today for exploratory surgery, but was cancelled due to lack of blood - she is A Rh Positive - if you are this group, could you please go to the General and tell them it is for Lynda Atkinson, Blue Cross Hospital. Please help her, she needs this surgery to ascertain what is wrong with her, but it isn't classed as an emergency as such . . . . . . but to us it certainly is.

Any other groups, please, give, we need to get this blood into the blood bank and end this block on surgeries.

Many thanks.

If anyone knows the criteria that they need to give blood please let us know age/medical conditions etc.

Hello Amber/Jim. I am a registered donor AND am A Rh Positive. I will go in the morning to the hospital. In the UK, I used to get reminder letters and I wish they would do that here. I've given several times at the Evangelissmos but only because I remember to ring them and ask when the next session is. But only happy to help.
Patricia

A lot of times if an "op" of some kind is involved the person having the procedure is requested to get donations of blood. This doesn't always mean the blood is required for their op but it's like a "scratch my back" situation where there is usually a criteria involved for donating as Jim has mentioned.

A lady I work with had one of her friends in hospital a few weeks ago and the "requirements" for his lump/mass removal was 6 pints of blood.
The criteria was adults under 50 years of age with no ongoing medication but was later relaxed to under 60s as the guy himself had very few friends under 50 being above 60 years himself...
The donors are given a basic screening (a thumb prick usually) and if all is okay the donation is taken.

Depending then on the final screening the blood may be used for future operations or basic plasma replacement.

They got a total of 10 people to the hospital to donate and luckily all were able to give blood so my colleagues' friend received his op. Sadly, it's not looking like good news but the biopsy results should be back in the next week or so.

Sadly I am in the UK,and probably too old!
but how strange, my maiden name was Atkinson.
hope people get your message and go give blood.

Done! I went to the hospital today and gave my "A rh Positive" and made sure they knew it was for Lynda Atkinson. They seemed to know the name. I just hope it will be of help to her and they contact her. Patricia

Just donated a month ago. They can take your blood right up to the day before your 66th birthday, that was the case with me and for ladies 3 times a year, men 4 times a year. They will not take your blood if you have been in certain Asian countries and not sure of the timescale on test. You would have to ask.

I have given blood all y adult life and have to say the beds at the blood bank in Paphos General are the best anywhere.

Go on give if you can.

Liz

Wed 16 October = Part of a message from Jean who made the original posting

''Yes, unfortunately that is the case over here - I know for a fact a lot of people of all blood groups have been to the General to donate, and there is a mass visit on Thursday - https://www.facebook.com/events/1396331 ... 4/?fref=ts

I spoke to Lynda tonight, and she has been rescheduled for surgery on Monday. When her surgeon rang her today to confirm this, he said he'd had a phone call today from the blood bank, thanking everybody for their donations - apparently lots of people had been there, saying their blood was for Lynda Atkinson. It shows the power of the internet' - it has been all over facebook and the people of Paphos have responded brilliantly. Thank you to them''

Amber

We went to the General Hospital today to give blood only to be told that donations can only be made between 0700 and 0900, Monday to Friday. Others may want to note the times!

Can't you have your own blood taken and reserved for yourself if it's for an elective operation?

Yes, it is possible for your own blood to be taken if you are going to have an operation and quite often the patient will ask family and friends to donate a pint. Some operations have to be postponed because there isn't enough of a specific blood group for their needs.