"Treatment room system disappointment "

I have experienced on at least four occasions in the last 4 months where myself or my daughter needed to attend the treatment room for a blood test and called prior to attending to ask if they were taking patients with routine blood test requests. I was told they were so I booked a taxi and arrived only to find a notice put up saying urgent requests only.

I live a fair distance away and need to take a taxi for both ways.

On two occasions I had to return an additional two times before getting a blood test done. Sometimes waiting for 1.5-2 hours.

On the last occasion the waiting area had more empty chairs than vacated and when I pointed this out to the receptionist she was kind enough to go and ask the nurse. A nurse did come out to look at how many were waiting and decided it’s urgent requests only.

I was told to go to Darwen health centre which is out of town and would incur more costs for the taxi fare.

I understand that they may be short staffed on certain days and have multiple clinics running. The nurses are polite albeit appear overworked and overwhelmed.

I don’t fault them however I do feel the system should be changed and each Drs practice should accommodate for the blood tests of their own respective practices.

For a patient struggling with health issues this has caused me much distress and anxiety.

I feel like there’s no other way out and I have no other choice but to continue in the current system.

If there was the option of booking an appointment or a guarantee that routine blood requests will be accommodated then that would ease the situation a little.

I hate to complain but my experiences have compelled me to.