"Is this really the 21's Century?"

Hanging around a couple of hours for bloods to be taken is really not nice - especially when connected to air - the inquiries staff could not even indicate how long it would take.

To discover there was 1 Phlebotomist on duty the day after a Bank Holiday.... who schedules these staff?

Known to be a busy day given a short week and 1 poor staff member is run off their feet - we were there all across Lunch, So I guess they didn't get to eat either.

We go to our turn and discover Newmarket Hospital doesn't deal with electronic blood requests from West Suffolk.

And after calling West Suffolk we discover faxed documents are no longer allowed.

While on the phone with West Suffolk, they tried to call Newmarket...... first time they got through and the call was left ringing for the Phlebotomist, 2nd and 3rd time I could hear the call coming in but no one was at Reception, instead they were gassing in the little room behind with a delivery driver.....

1 poked their head out "Was that a phone ringing?" but it cut off, I was called back by a frustrated PA from West Suffolk saying they couldn't get through.......

They tried once more, relaying my comment on them gassing out back and they flatly lied to them......

I was right there, I could hear this end of the conversation.

So, if you need blood taken on a 4 day week, go elsewhere as there will be 1 poor member of staff worked off their feet and a 2 hour wait [ good job I used a brand new O2 cylinder and had a spare in the car for the journey home!!, we took 10 minutes waiting in West Suffolk.

If you need to get through to a department in Newmarket, then dial direct!

Avoid reception at all costs!

Enjoy!