Perfectly possible, I have given blood regularly in Greece, sometimes for specific people because if someone has an operation and needs blood their relatives have to try to collect enough donors to make up the amount used (not necessary to match groups) and sometimes for the 'blood bank' at the hospital.
Just go along, think morning is the best time, and you will be checked out (blood pressure etc,) and if all is satisfactory you can give the blood, be givenn an orange juice and a biscuit and be on your way!
Message posted by C4owner on 03 January 2010 at 10:26am - IP Logged
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I have to say that this is very interesting as 3 years ago my wife was nearly taken into hospital in Corfu to have a gall bladder removed when she took ill whilst we were on holiday
Does this mean that I as a holidaymaker and visitor would have had to give blood and try to get others to do so before she had the operation?
Luckily the Doctor in Kassiopi managed to stabilise things and we got an early flight back to the UK so didn't need to find out about the credit system.
It would be useful though to have clarification for future visits, just in case!
Message posted by janmanessi on 03 January 2010 at 10:38am - IP Logged
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Jan, can you clarify exactly were you go. I presume you are talking about the hospital in town. I have never been there, is the department easy to find. I have always given blood in Scotland so would like to continue doing so.
Do they give you an anesthetic wipe on the site where they take the blood.It does make it completely pain free.
Message posted by janmanessi on 03 January 2010 at 6:00pm - IP Logged
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It's still at the old hospital. Go through the main gate, look to your right right and you'll see a portacabin immediately to the right of the main building. First door there will take you into the waiting room.
Message posted by kevin-leeds on 03 January 2010 at 7:13pm - IP Logged
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I unfortunately had a heart attack just a month after arriving with my wife for our new life in Corfu, it resulted in me having to have open heart surgery. The doctors said they would need 10 litres of blood for the operation and as I didn't have any credits I should ask friends and relatives to donate.
As we didn't have many Greek friends (although 3 of them did give blood for me, how cool is that) I said my family would be coming over to visit and would donate when they arrived.
Unfortunately the hospital will not accept blood from UK citizens apparently because CJD unles you have lived in Greece for a number of years.
The night before the operation an office worker came to my bed in hospital to say in no uncertain terms that I could not have the operation as there hadn't been enough credits given on my behalf, my wife accompanied her to an office where fortunately a more sympathetic man was, she explained the situation and he gave the go ahead for the op.
The operation went well but not without complications, but I can't thank every one enough who took care of me at Corfu General and Ioannina Hospital where I had the surgery, and all the relatives of other patients who made my wifes long lonely hours bearable whilst I was in intensive care.
We made friends for life in Kassiopi without these people I am not sure we would have coped.
Hope this helps
Message posted by Thea on 03 January 2010 at 8:39pm - IP Logged
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"Unfortunately the hospital will not accept blood from UK citizens apparently because CJD unles you have lived in Greece for a number of years."
This is what I have heard, those of you who have given blood for unknown recipients, how long have you lived in Greece? I guess long enough not to be susceptable to CJD or its varients?
Message posted by C4owner on 03 January 2010 at 8:44pm - IP Logged
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