Phlebotomy clinics run only on weekdays (Monday through Friday, except Bank Holidays) from 8am till 6:30pm. Evening and weekend phlebotomy clinics are available to book into via the Central London Enhanced Access hub at Connaught Square.
Who is the phlebotomy service for?
All our weekday and weekend phlebotomy services are for patients of the Practice over the age of 14 who need to have their blood drawn for diagnostic testing or monitoring, on the request of a Practice clinician. Patients over the age of 16 who hold an NHS GP registration with any Central London GP can only access evening and weekend phlebotomy clinics.
Where do we provide our phlebotomy service?
Our phlebotomy service is based in the Practice.
If you are over the age of 16 and the appointment times available in the Practice do not suit your availability, you have the option of accessing the hospital-based phlebotomy clinics at Charing Cross Hospital or Hammersmith Hospital. Our Practice team will support you to book an appointment. Please remember to obtain a printed copy of your GP blood test referral form (also known as ICE form) and bring it to your blood test appointment in the relevant hospital.
Who works on our phlebotomy team?
Our phlebotomy team includes four Healthcare Assistants, two GP Assistants and a Healthcare Assistant in training.
What phlebotomy service is available for housebound patients?
Housebound patients over the age of 16 can be referred by a Practice clinician to the Community District Nursing team who will arrange to see a patient at home within 1-7 days, in order to obtain a blood sample. The sample will be labelled with the patient’s information and sent by the Community District Nursing team to the North West London pathology laboratory at St Mary’s Hospital or Charing Cross Hospital for testing. The results of the blood test will be sent back / reported to the Practice in the practice-based clinical system within 5 business days.
Where appropriate, housebound patients needing an urgent blood test and/or assessment can be referred by a Practice clinician to the Community Rapid Response team who will arrange to see a patient at home on the day. The results of the blood test and/or assessment will be reported back to the referring clinician on the same day or the following day.
What phlebotomy service is available for patients below the age of 14?
Children and young people below the age of 14 who need a blood test will be referred by a Practice clinician to the Paediatric Phlebotomy Clinic at Hammersmith Hospital who will offer an outpatient appointment, in order to obtain a blood sample. The results of the blood test will be sent back / reported to the Practice in the practice-based clinical system within 5 business days of the blood sample being acquired.
What happens during a blood test?
A blood test usually involves placing a needle attached to a stylet into one of the blood vessels in the inside of your elbow or the back of your hand. For blood test in the Practice, the Healthcare Assistant will:
- Clean the area inside your elbow to kill any germs
- Tie a band around your upper arm, which will help the veins in your arm fill with blood
- Insert a clean needle into a vein (which feels like a brief pinch)
- Draw blood into a vial that’s attached to the needle and labeled with your personal information
- Remove the band and then the needle
- Put pressure on the needle insertion site to stop the bleeding
- Place a bandage on the area
- Send the blood sample to the North West London pathology laboratory at Charing Cross Hospital for testing
Most blood tests only take a few minutes to complete. If you are having a fasting test, you should not have anything to eat or drink (except plenty of water) for 8-10 hours prior. If you were asked to fast before your test, it is possible you will feel light-headed afterwards, so please have a drink and something to eat afterwards.
What adjustments are available for patients who need more support because of fear of needles or a learning disability?
Our Healthcare Assistants Mark and Suela have worked with several people who have fear of needles and patients living with a severe learning disability who have required regular blood tests. There are a number of reasonable adjustments we have made, including:
- using a butterfly needle which reduces any discomfort for the patient
- giving patients time to talk about the blood test and ask questions
- using social stories to help patients understand what is going to happen
- an easy-read form for blood collection
- longer appointments to ensure the blood test is not rushed
- appointments booked for the quietest time at the Practice so the patient does not have too long to wait and did not have time to become anxious
What happens to my blood sample?
The blood samples are collected and transported to the North West London pathology laboratory at Charing Cross Hospital where they are tested. The pathology sample testing service is commissioned for local practices via North West London Pathology, a partnership between Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, Chelsea & Westminster NHS Foundation Trust and The Hillingdon Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.
How do I check my blood test results?
- Login to the NHS App on your smartphone or via your web browser using the NHS App weblink. You will be able to sign in using Face ID or your NHS Login credentials.
- From the main menu, select ‘View your GP health record’.
- There will be a ‘sensitive information’ warning: please read the information and select ‘continue’ at the bottom of the page.
- Select ‘Test results’ from the menu. If you can see ‘Test results’ in the menu, please contact the Practice to have your access reset.
- Here you will see all information and related comments to blood tests in the Practice or blood tests taken in the community (for housebound patients) or in hospital (following a referral from a Practice clinician).
