"The need to streamline the patient journey"

Hospital Consultant in Dundee requested blood samples to be taken and urine sample to be handed in for analysis. Phoned GP practice to make arrangements as I have done in the past. GP practice explained that as samples had been requested by a ‘3rd party’, appointments had to be made for hospital phlebotomy services in one of the hospitals across NHSTayside. I asked if I could visit the community clinic that is 0.1miles from my home but was again informed that this is only for patients whose GP has requested the sampling, not a 3rd party. The 3rd party being the Consultant. I obtained an appointment at PRI CIU for this morning. My experience with the staff at the CIU was excellent. However, they were unable to accept the urine sample and redirected me to my GP. After leaving PRI I had to go to the GP practice to hand in the urine sample to be sent to the lab that is based at PRI. 

What an unnecessary chain of events to have a very simple procedure done. None of my experience today had the patient at the centre of the service delivery processes. 

With the aim of the acute services and primary care services sharing the care of patients with chronic disease, the processes I had to follow today in NHS Tayside should be reviewed as they 100% were not patient-centred. 

Ideal scenario - I could have made an appointment at the nearby community clinic to have bloods taken and hand in my urine sample. Alternatively, at least being able to hand urine sample to CIU staff when having bloods taken as a one-stop service rather than a 2 stop service.

Please, consider reviewing the existing protocols/systems to streamline the patient experience.