Blood test appointments

[Amaretti]

Thank you for the responses so far about HbA1c results to patients.

I've created a new poll about booking phlebotomy appointments to have blood collected. It would be really useful to know whether you prefer to book appointments or turn up any time and queue.

would you rather to book a specific 5min time slot to have blood taken, sign up to a 2 hour time period (and turn up any time within that period), or just turn up any time and queue.

Many thanks for your help with this.

 

[Mark T]

I wouldn't want to attend my hospital!

It's 30 minutes drive away and the car park costs some inordinate amount (apparently to dissuade people from parking there for the town centre)

My surgery does it in nice 10 minute appointments for which the only downside is that I have to take time out of work to do it and is much nearer to get to.

 

[Pumper_Sue]

As already stated I have no intention of making an 80 mile round trip for a blood test.

 

[pav]

I prefer the GP practice, no parking fees and only a short walk, even with the hic ups that one has on occasions with the appointments.

 

[AlisonM]

My surgery is closer than the hospital and has adequate staff available to do these tests, unlike the clinic at the hospital. Results are usually returned within the week and instantly available to all my medical team, wherever they are located. No parking charges at Scots hospitals of course, but that doesn't help me as I don't drive, I'd have to take a taxi which is exorbitantly expensive.

 

[everydayupsanddowns]

Another with a preference for seeing the lovely surgery bloods woman. Just a few minutes walk instead of a real trek.

 

[Caroline]

I usually go tot he hospital for my blood tests as I can getthere early and be near the front og th queue. AT my GPs surgery there are limted places (about 20 I think) and all are booked for the same time and everyone is seen in the order they were booked in at. If you're lucky and happen to be number 1 you'll be seen at 8.45, if you're unlucky and number 20 following 19 difficult to find veins it could be as late as 10am when you get out of there.

One of the things that winds me up up is people who eat in the clinic waiting room atthe hospital and it has been 12 pus hours since I last had anything to eat😡

 

[Northerner]

I go to my surgery also, so can't vote for any of the options given - five minutes walk away as opposed to a 90 minute bus ride costing ?3 and a 40 minute walk. Getting an appointment with the surgery nurse is never a problem for me. You should have included a 'None of the above' option 🙂

 

[robofski]

GP surgery for me (yesterday as it happens). They start early (8am) so if I can get one of the first appointments I only miss 15 minutes of work. Local hospital would be a nightmare!

 

[Northerner]

I would also suggest the idea of an exact 5 minute time slot would be unworkable in practice since people would probably be dependent on some form of transport to get there meaning you either have to factor in a generous amount of time for delays or risk turning up too late and missing your time slot - multiply that by 100 patients and it just couldn't work.

 

[everydayupsanddowns]

I would also suggest the idea of an exact 5 minute time slot would be unworkable in practice since people would probably be dependent on some form of transport to get there meaning you either have to factor in a generous amount of time for delays or risk turning up too late and missing your time slot - multiply that by 100 patients and it just couldn't work.

But I'd rather a notional 5 min slot than a 2hr window! Similarly... just turning up and queueing might be OK (like it is when picking up a script at a pharmacy) but you'd never know how busy they would be so it would make a quick 'in and out' a bit unlikely.

I always seem to be in the waiting room for 10-15 minutes whoever I'm seeing... whatever time is booked... and whatever time of day it is (unless I get appointment no. 1!)

 

[MargB]

I no longer have the choice as my surgery no longer has a phlebotomist coming in and the practice nurse does not have time to take bloods. Therefore, we now all have to go to the hospital for blood tests. OK for me as I have a car and although not happy having to pay for parking I just mutter and get on with it. The hospital, Community Hospital, is not easy to get to without a car so I feel sorry for any elderly patients at the practice.

We are given the phone number on a slip of paper by reception at the surgery and able to make a proper appointment. In and out very quickly as they are taking bloods all day so there is none of the usual messing of going in one arm, out, try the other arm, back to the first arm, mutter and then listen to me when I say to 'feel' for the vein and don't be deceived by the eyes.