I recently attended JCUH occupational health department in order to obtain a blood test for starting an NHS course at the local university. Firstly, I had to travel around 2 and a half hours, which i did not of course mind due to my choice to relocate, and attended the department. I arrived early and they saw me straight away which I was very grateful of. Unfortunately that's where the provisions of 'good' care stopped. I was not asked for 'informed' consent, as I was unaware of exactly what my blood test was actually testing for and I was not explained fully the repercussions of any findings. Personally I find given blood a negative experience as a whole due to past events however this did not help to improve my feelings. I went away from my test to be greeted with a letter a week or two later saying I needed to contact the department urgently. I tried to ring after I returned from work that evening to be told the department was closed and I would have to wait until Monday- 3 whole days! When i eventually got in touch after a rather panicked weekend I was told they nurse had mislabeled the blood bottle, a mistake which would have been picked up on had she had me check, and another sample was required. Due to the distance I was told I could have my blood test taken at my GP at home and the results faxed over. I heard nothing back from this an assumed everything was OK, based on information i had initially been told by the first Nurse, until I arrived at University and was told i'd apparently never had a blood test ( I can assure you they did occur!!) I received a letter to my old home address saying a appointment with your department was needed. When I rang up and explained the situation I was told my second blood test didn't count as there was no proof of ID and a third test was required. By this point I was quite distressed having three tests when just one was required. Eventually i had my third test and was left with a bruise the size of a melon on my arm for entering my first placement (which i can assure you was not very settling for all the Service Users who required their own blood tests!!) . I'm yet again to hear the actual results of my test and was offered no information regarding obtaining these results. Whilst the situation was very distressing for me, due to a terrible phobia of personally having needles, I cant help but be annoyed at the cost to the NHS for simple stupid mistakes and lack of communication which could have easily been rectified.
"Experience of JCUH"
About: The James Cook University Hospital The James Cook University Hospital Middlesbrough TS4 3BW
Posted via nhs.uk
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