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Travelling for a blood test

Posted By quebecjq55

"Travelling for a blood test"

About: Moyle Hospital / Outpatients Department Musgrave Park Hospital / Phlebotomy centre

(as a service user),

I am due a PSA blood test for my prostate, so I phone my care nurse at the City Cancer Unit to find out when, and to book an appointment at the Moyle Hospital in Larne.

I have been on the PSA watchlist and I have always had it done at the Moyle.

Now I am told I have to travel to Musgrave Park to have my blood test. When the letter arrives, it is for Musgrave. So I phone the booking line and request an appointment for the Moyle. After some discussion I am given an appointment for phlebotomy at the Moyle, only to be told when I arrive that they can't do it. They don't have labels and can't print any labels, so now I have to travel sixty miles (round trip) for a simple blood test, when there is a phlebotomy unit on my doorstep.

For me, Musgrave Park isn't the most convenient place to get to. Even the City Hospital would be better as it has a rail link.

The people who plan these services don't seem to give much thought about the people who use them, or the environment as I will now have to add to air pollution by using my car.

Why can't my doctor do the blood test and send it in?

Why can't the Moyle phlebotomy unit do it and send it in?

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Responses

Response from Tracey Jamison-McGowan, Ward Manager, Outpatients Moyle Hospital, NHSCT 10 months ago
Tracey Jamison-McGowan
Ward Manager, Outpatients Moyle Hospital,
NHSCT

Submitted on 15/10/2024 at 12:53
Published on Care Opinion at 14:44

Thank you for providing this feedback following on from your recent visit to the Moyle Outpatients Department.

I fully appreciate your frustration concerning this matter, with trying to get your blood taken. However, because of the new Encompass system, which is a new electronic health and care record for Northern Ireland, you appear to have been referred to the Phlebotomy Hub at Musgrave Park Hospital, to have the blood taken. This new system refers patients electronically for tests/procedures that may be required. The Northern Trust is not live with this system at present but is going live on 7th November 2024.

It is my understanding that my staff in the Moyle Outpatients did try to facilitate you at the time, by contacting the Belfast City Hospital but were unfortunately unable to assist any further, as there was a requirement for you to attend the Phlebotomy Hub at Musgrave Park Hospital.

The General Practitioners are no longer taking any patients bloods' which have been ordered by secondary care providers (hospitals).

Perhaps with Encompass coming to the Northern Trust in November, this problem will be resolved, enabling you to attend Moyle Outpatients Department for any future blood tests.

I do hope this answers your questions and I want to wish you all the best with your future treatment and I am sorry for this unfortunate inconvenience.

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Response from Clare Forsythe, Patient and Client Experience Manager, Belfast Trust Wide, Belfast Health and Social Care Trust last month
Clare Forsythe
Patient and Client Experience Manager, Belfast Trust Wide,
Belfast Health and Social Care Trust

Submitted on 07/07/2025 at 09:06
Published on Care Opinion at 09:06

picture of Clare Forsythe

Dear quebecjq55

My name is Clare Forsythe and I am the Patient and Client Experience Manager in the Belfast Trust.

Thank you for taking the time to share your story with us on Care Opinion.

I apologise that you did not previously receive a response from the Belfast Trust to your story however, I would like to reassure you that your feedback has been shared with the team.

We have been working closely with teams across the Trust to ensure we now have staff to respond to all stories we receive through Care Opinion.

Your feedback is really important to us here in the Trust and I would encourage you to share any future experiences and feedback about our services through Care Opinion.

Kind Regards

Clare Forsythe

Patient & Client Experience Manager

Central Nursing & User Involvement

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