"My concerns about my blood test"

I used to attend a local clinic for my yearly blood tests but this is no longer an option and I had to attend Ealing Hospital blood department yesterday and I wanted to express my concern. When I used to go to the clinic there would be a very experienced person to take my bloods who understood that it was difficult to obtain my bloods and would be experienced enough to understand and do what was necessary taking their time and professionally.

A few weeks ago I spoke with someone who had attended the hospital for blood tests and told me they had a bad experience so I was nervous and frightened before even attending.

You have to phone for an appointment, so I went along (early) and gave them my form, the person dealing with me could not find me in the system and I had to show them the text message on my mobile phone acknowledging the appointment and a reminder. This put me off from the start.

I went through when it was my turn and sat down, I held my fist tight while the nurseput the band loosely around my upper arm, even though I knew it should be tighter as I have trouble giving blood I didn’t panic. I begin to pump my fist to assist but this was not working. They asked if they couldn’t find a viable vein could they try in the back of my hand. They pressed firmly into the crook of my left arm where they usually manage to take bloods from but couldn’t find anything.  They tried the left arm, the right arm, back to the left again all with nothing produced. They decided to use the back of my hand and went to find a finer needle. When they inserted this they just wriggled it about constantly catching the bone.

Within the room there was another senior and I believe more experienced nurse who was asked to take a look at me. They came over and politely asked me to have patience with them. They tried my left arm again, pulled the band much tighter and pressed firmly at the point where the vein should be. I asked if they had found a vein and they replied they had although it was quite deep. As I cannot look when blood is taken I am not sure which person actually inserted the needle and took my bloods then but at the same time the needle was pulled out from the back off my hand. The first nurse said they would get some cotton wool to soak up the blood but there was no need as there was none!

My opinion is this, if there are more experienced staff on site that are able to assist or perform the task when they know the patient has problems why not ask them for help at the beginning, or after trying the first time. The staff should be fully trained and have the experience to deal with this or at least ask for help sooner.

The several attempts made me uncomfortable, was not expected, I became agitated. The patient themselves should be able to ask for a more experienced staff member which would put them at ease. Three attempts then my hand was just too much!

Also it was a complete shambles in the waiting room. There were people there for all types of appointments and the staff had to ask who was there for blood tests, and when she asked myself and another person stood up, the other person was over half an hour late and I was there early but they dealt with the other person first! I found the receptionist rude and when I asked why the other clinic was not available they informed me that they didn't know as they didn’t work there.

I want them to know that this experience has really put me off and I really do not want to go back there.

There is certainly a lot of room for improvement, starting with politeness and listening.

As a footnote, the person whom I spoke with about her experience had to return to her own GP’s as her bloods were lost!!