[Welshgirl]

After hearing an ad on the radio about how desperate they are for blood donors, I, being the model Kiwi resident that I am ( [smiley=icon_mrgreen.gif] ), decided to become a blood donor. I phoned the freephone number and was welcomed and thanked for choosing to become a donor. I was informed of the opening hours of the clinic and where they were situated. The very helpful lady then proceeded to ask me where I was originally from as she had 'noticed a little bit of an accent there'. I informed her I was from the UK and she said unfortunately I would not be able to donate my blood as the UK has a history of mad cow disease!!!!! Granted it was only if you were there for a period of 6 months or more before 1992, but I was truly amazed. I wonder how many donors they are losing out on, considering the number of Brits here. Is there no test they can do to ensure you don't have the disease, instead of merely ruling you out of donating blood forever? Pity when they're obviously in such dire need of donors [smiley=icon_sad.gif] . Don't get me wrong, I'm not criticising the blood service for being wary of such diseases - on the contrary, good on them - but what a shame to lose out on potentially thousands of donors.

Anyway, I shall go off and find some other way to do my bit for the community instead, somebody must want me, mad cow disease n'all [smilie=Na_na!.gif]