Health
Blood Donor InformationLast Updated 16 Sep 2023
BLOOD DONOR GUIDELINES
Traditionally in North Cyprus, it is the responsibility of the patient to find friends and family to donate blood in the case of any surgery.
In emergency situations, the hospital will request blood from the State Blood Bank in Lefkosa and the patient should arrange for replacement blood to be donated by friends and family post-operation. It is not necessary to replace all the blood with the same blood group as the patient; it is the replacement of the same number of units which is important.
In the case of elective or planned surgery, it is the responsibility of the patient to arrange for donors to donate at either Girne State Hospital Blood Bank or Lefkosa State Hospital Blood Bank. The blood donor will need to state the name of the patient and the hospital they are in when they donate; this should be BEFORE the surgery is required. In this case it is preferable to find people of the correct blood group.
As the main Lefkosa Blood State Bank is always short of blood, the BRS, in conjunction with the blood bank, and Girne state hospital organise a number of blood donor days every year to try and boost the available blood supply and to try and raise awareness of the importance of donating blood.
Please do not underestimate the importance of donating blood; it literally could save a life.
Please also help by informing friends and family of the need for donors and encourage them to register (see below).
Information on Donating Blood - please check BRS website for any changes.
In North Cyprus both sexes can donate every four months.
The age limit for regular donors is 68; the age limit for first time donors is 67. The BRS is currently undergoing discussions with the Health Department to raise the age limit for donors.
You can donate at Girne State Hospital Mondays and Thursdays between 7am and 1pm or the Lefkosa Blood Bank Monday to Friday between 8am and 1pm. The BRS organised blood donor days are advertised in Cyprus Today and an email is sent to all donors registered on the donor database. If you live to the east of TRNC you can also donate at the new Famagusta State Hospital between 9am and 2pm, Monday to Friday.
Donating blood takes approximately 20 minutes. The technician will first check your blood pressure and haemoglobin count, and provided these are within the specified health limits, you can donate.
To register as a donor, please use the contact page with your name, home location, mobile telephone number, email address and date of birth. If you know your blood group, please also advise what it is. If you don’t know your blood group, we will be able to tell you once you have attended a donor day and we have received your results from the blood bank. Having donated blood at a donor day you will be issued with a donor card on your next visit.
Unfortunately the new Government residency on line system does not recognise blood donations made through the year as part of residency requirements, as it had done in the past for those under 60 years of age or requiring a test for other reasons.
If you have any queries, please use the contact page and select Health/Welfare to send it to.
PLEASE REGISTER AND HELP SAVE A LIFE!
