Phuket blood bank grateful for urgent donations, calls for more in case

PHUKET: The Phuket Regional Blood Center (PRBC) received two units of Rh-negative blood and two single-platelet donations yesterday, in response to urgent requests on behalf of a foreigner due to undergo heart surgery (story here).

“We do not know what condition the patient is in. However, I think the patient will be okay…

“The hospital itself has seven units of O-negative blood type plus the two units from us,” PRBC director Pornthip Rattajak told the Phuket Gazette.

While grateful for the donations, she stressed that there is a continuing need for Rh-negative blood donations, since this type is rare among Thais.

“There are patients in other provinces who need A-negative blood. Please come to the center to donate at your convenience,” she added.

Donors should be aware that age restrictions apply. First-time donors must be under 55 years old; they may subsequently donate every three months.

Donors aged between 60 and 65 will have their blood tested for iron first; donors between 65 and 70 require a medical certificate.

Donations are not accepted from donors over age 70.

The PRBC is located on Rattanakosin 200 Year Road, next to Phuket Provincial Employment Office in Saphan Hin.

Donations are accepted from 8:30am to 4:30pm on Monday, Wednesday and Friday, from 8:30am to 8pm on Tuesday and Thursday, and from 9am to 3pm on Saturday and Sunday.

For more information, call the PRBC at 076-251178 or 081-9588854.

— Chutharat Plerin