I have regular blood tests for a condition that may become problematic. I live in rural Fife - 50min drive from hospital - or 3 buses taking several hours.
Having agreed with docs to have the tests done at my local surgery that happened for 8 years - great say I! Post pandemic my appointment came through to have tests at my handy local hub, still a 30 min drive or 3 buses.
After consulting local surgery, I was told that: patients can’t just choose to have tests done anywhere, the NHS is short of money, it was my job to work things out with phlebotomy. I now attend a much handier local hub 15 minutes away or 2 buses.
The phlebotomist at St Andrews Hospital handy hub finally, actually explained why. If specialists use hubs, then all the blood tests for e.g. phlebotomy go directly to them. If surgeries do the tests, then specialists have to filter each result to the right department. Now it makes sense.
The point of this long rambling story is to say….patients like an explanation, not a telling off.
Well done St. Andrews phlebotomist who speaks to people - not numbers on a sheet! Promote them, pay them a bonus - better still make them the manager of my scary local surgery😊
"Giving useful information to patients!!"
About: General practices in Fife General practices in Fife KY7 5LT St Andrews Community Hospital / Outpatients St Andrews Community Hospital Outpatients KY16 9LG
Posted by Zoesgranny (as ),
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