1952
The Blood Transfusion Department catered for 350 transfusions at St. Luke’s Hospital. In gynaecological cases blood transfusions had become standard pre-operative treatment for patients with heamoglobin levels below 70%.
1953
It was proposed to send a medical practitioner for a training course in Blood Transfusion work and administration, in the United Kingdom.
1954
Dr. F. T. Pullicino was appointed Blood Transfusion Officer, in the Medical and Health Department with effect from 12th December 1954, with one year probation period.
1955
The Governor has been pleased to confirm Dr. F.T. Pullicino in his appointment as Blood Transfusion Officer.
During this year, the number of patients requiring transfusion was 633 and 898 bottles of blood were issued. 212 blood groups were done at Victoria Hospital, Gozo.
1956
Blood transfusion used to be one of the branches of the Pathology department. In October of this year it was relocated to the first floor of the outpatients department at St. Luke’s Hospital, in order to provide spacious accommodation for all branches of pathology as well as adequate accommodation for the transfusion unit itself. By this time, the Blood Transfusion Unit had only one Blood Transfusion Officer and one Staff Registered Nurse.
1958
The annual report of the Medical and Health Department of this year (D.O.H. Annual Reports on the Health Conditions of the Maltese Islands and on the works of the Medical and Health Department fpor the year 1958), stated that ‘Blood group investigations continued at an increased pace and the future’s likely to show it’s important discoveries, especially in the genetic field, for routine purposes in our hospital we were more concerned with transfusions, the utility of which is beyond doubt.
In the clinical field increase refinements of technique have done much to reduce the danger of transfusion and to enable it to meet the ever greater and more stringent demands of the physician and surgeon. Such demands require a constant supply of blood and it is in this respect that we met with frequent difficulties. The blood transfusions officer in our hospital has a list of blood donors but they were not always available.
Very often volunteers and friends came forward to donate blood for some particular patient but on occasions the stocks of blood were exhausted. When this happened we were often able to draw supplies from the Army Hospitals on a reciprocal agreement. It may be stated that during the year no patient who required blood transfusions was left without it. The public is slowly realising the need of blood donors and it is reasonable to expect that public consciousness is being raised and a more generous view is being formed of this public spirited gesture’.
During this year the blood transfusion department dealt with 890 requests and 989 bottles were issued. Routine antenatal blood testing was started towards the end of this year. 201 Blood groupings were done at Victoria Hospital, Gozo.
1961
The Blood Transfusion Department dealt with 777 requests for blood transfusions and 1,295 bottles were issued during the year under review. During this year there was only one blood transfusion officer.
1964
Blood group fom 920 patients tested was:-
O – 40%; A- 47.5%; B – 9%; AB – 3.5%
Rhesus Positive (+) – 89.5% Rhesus Negative (-) – 10.5%
During the mentioned year there were 923 requests for blood transfusion and 1,388 bottles were used.
1967
The Maltese Association of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta decided to establish a blood transfusion service and blood bank. In a report given to the Times of Malta, on the 28th December, 1967, it was also stated that blood was to be supplied free of charge to all those who needed it.
1968
The Maltese Association of the Soveriegn Military Order announced that it’s premises were to be officially inaugurated in June. They also were to do a campaign in order to recruit donors with the name ‘It is very important that each person know his type of blood’, (Times of Malta, 5th January, 1968).
The setting up of a blood bank by the Sovereign Military Order of Malta (private sector) was met with cautious criticism due to the fear of wasting our limited resources. This was reported by the Times of Malta, on the 27th January, 1968.
A blood donors’ opinion given when a blood bank system was about to arrive in Malta. The article also gave ideas on how the bank should operate and that it should be at St. Luke’s Hospital. These letters and articles show the great interest and awareness of the Maltese people in blood donations. An extract from the prayer composed by Pope John XXIII for blood donors was also presented:- “…The anguish of those who suffer, You brothers and ours, urge us to give a little of our blood so that the vigour of health may return but we would that this gift be directed to You Who did shed Your precious Blood for us…” (Times of Malta, 02nd February, 1968).
Dr. Roy Schembri Wismayer M.D. was appointed Registrar of Pathology and Blood Transfusion with effect from 16th March, 1968.
On the 14th June, The Maltese Association of the Sovereign Military Order of Jerusalem, Rhodes and Malta with the cooperation of the Cathedral of Malta opened officially the Blood Bank at the Headquarters of the Order’s local Association in St. Ursula Street, Valletta. A spokesman for the association said:- ” The Blood Bank should be a great boom to the nation and constitute a considerable relief to the load of public need which the Government has to face at the moment”. A tribute was also paid to His Grace the Archbishop MGR. M. Gonzi by the Association, for his idea of setting up the blood bank, (Times of Malta, 15th June, 1968).
The Governor General , Sir Maurice Henry Dorman was the first blood donor at the Sovereign Military Order of Malta blood bank and he also used to help by encouraging other people to donate blood at the newly opened blood bank, (Times of Malta, 13-17 August, 1968).
1969
May 1st the Archbishop Mgr. Gonzi together with the director of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta blood bank, Dr. P. Farrugia, arrived in Malta after an audience with the Pope who showed interest in the blood bank and advised them to expand it. His Holiness gave his blessing to all blood donors, (Times of Malta, 1st May, 1969).
During the same year, a staff reporter stated that it was a busy day for the blood bank, were demand exceeded supply. Two groups of donors gave blood to replenish supplies which the Bank distributes to hospitals and clinics in Malta. A group of 10 students from St. Michael Training College led by Brother Ralph in the morning called at the blood bank to donate blood.
Then in the afternoon 50 sailors from the visiting Italian Navy frigates “Bergamini” and “Morgottini” and the submarine “Cappellini: donated 25 litres of blood. The director of the blood bank Dr. P. Farrugia said yesterday that all blood supplied by the bank is fully processed and screened for certain specific diseases as required by the international standard regulations for blood banks.
Dr. Farrugia who was in attendance at the Blood Bank to receive the blood, was assisted by Dr. C. Vella and Dr. E. Stillon, (Times of Malta, 14th November, 1969).
The blood bank used to give a detailed report about how blood was collected and supplied, (Times of Mata, 18th November, 1969).
