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Blood test shambles

Story from nhs.uk

"Blood test shambles"

About: Altrincham General Hospital

Arrived for a blood test after having only water for 12hrs as directed, for a C peptide, fasting glucose,fasting lipid profile, PSA and TFT tests. After waiting 45 minutes I was summined for tge test only to be told that this unit hadn't got ICE on which one of the tests depended. I was told to go to Trafford General. Brilliant - Trafford General doesn't carry out blood tests after 12.30pm - the time now was 12.25.

I find it pathetic that a simple thing like ICE is missing from this unit thus making have to repeat the whole process again at another unit!

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Responses

Response from Altrincham General Hospital 8 years ago
Altrincham General Hospital

Submitted on 08/02/2016 at 16:17
Published on nhs.uk on 09/02/2016 at 01:30

Thank you for your feedback. We are sorry to learn that your experience of the Phlebotomy Service at Altrincham Hospital was not as positive as we would hope. It is important to us that comments are heard and seen as an opportunity provided to the service to make changes and improvements wherever possible.

In response to your comment, I can tell you that the Operational Manager for Medicine, (Trafford Hospitals) would like to express his sincere apologies for the inconvenience your experience has caused you. The Operational Manager has explained that the reason you could not have the blood test for C-Peptide is that the blood sample taken needs to be kept in ice for no longer than 15 minutes, as it is transferred to the laboratory for testing.

Unfortunately, as there are no laboratory facilities at Altrincham the blood tests cannot be carried out there. Consultants and GP practices in the area should be aware of this and you therefore should have been directed to Trafford Hospital rather than Altrincham Hospital for your test.

The Operational Manager has also confirmed that the opening times for GP patients to be seen by the phlebotomists at Trafford will be extending in the near future. GP’s will be made aware of the extended opening times via a Trafford GP Newsletter, at which time we will also ensure that they are reminded of what blood tests can be carried out at Altrincham Hospital.

If you would like to discuss this with us in more detail, please contact our Patient Advice and Liaison Service on 0161 276 8686 or by e-mailing pals@cmft.nhs.uk

The Patient Experience Team

  • {{helpful}} {{helpful == 1 ? "person thinks" : "people think"}} this response is helpful
Response from Patient Experience Lead, Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust 8 years ago
Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust

Submitted on 08/02/2016 at 16:17
Published on Care Opinion at 16:20

Thank you for your feedback. We are sorry to learn that your experience of the Phlebotomy Service at Altrincham Hospital was not as positive as we would hope. It is important to us that comments are heard and seen as an opportunity provided to the service to make changes and improvements wherever possible.

In response to your comment, I can tell you that the Operational Manager for Medicine, (Trafford Hospitals) would like to express his sincere apologies for the inconvenience your experience has caused you. The Operational Manager has explained that the reason you could not have the blood test for C-Peptide is that the blood sample taken needs to be kept in ice for no longer than 15 minutes, as it is transferred to the laboratory for testing. Unfortunately, as there are no laboratory facilities at Altrincham the blood tests cannot be carried out there. Consultants and GP practices in the area should be aware of this and you therefore should have been directed to Trafford Hospital rather than Altrincham Hospital for your test.

The Operational Manager has also confirmed that the opening times for GP patients to be seen by the phlebotomists at Trafford will be extending in the near future. GP’s will be made aware of the extended opening times via a Trafford GP Newsletter, at which time we will also ensure that they are reminded of what blood tests can be carried out at Altrincham Hospital.

If you would like to discuss this with us in more detail, please contact our Patient Advice and Liaison Service on 0161 276 8686 or by e-mailing pals@cmft.nhs.uk

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