Patients at St Helier Hospital are invited into one of four curtained areas to have blood taken. We have both male and female phlebotomists
You may be referred for a blood test by your GP for a number of reasons.
At St Helier and Sutton hospitals, the Trust provides a phlebotomy (blood testing) service for inpatients and outpatients. It is not usually necessary to make an appointment.
The Trust also runs a number of phlebotomy clinics for Sutton and Merton GP patients in the community. Please see the complete timetable for times and locations available.
The blood testing service at Epsom Hospital is for hospital inpatients only, there are no facilities available for GP patients. Patients who attend with a GP request form will be asked to make an appointment at their local GP surgery.
GPs in Surrey have their own phlebotomy clinics at their surgeries. Please check with your local surgery for opening times and appointment arrangements.
What happens at the hospital during a blood test?
The patient is reporting to a receptionist, she has handed all the forms given to her by her doctor to the receptionist. Please tell the receptionist if you have hearing or other difficulties.
Report to reception and give the receptionist all the forms that your doctor has given to you, these will be returned to you so that you can hand them to the person taking your blood. You will be given a ticket with a number on it.
Let the receptionist know if you have fasted, she will keep your forms and ensure that you are not kept waiting too long.
Child patients and patients who have been fasting before their blood test are given priority. This may mean that people appear to be jumping the queue; please be assured that this is not the case.
The patient has removed her overcoat and her sleeves are pushed up above her elbows. She will wait until the number on her ticket is displayed and she is called to the curtained area.
Take a seat in the waiting area.
It is helpful if you are wearing garments with sleeves that can easily be pushed up over your elbow or have short sleeves.
The waiting room can get very busy at times, people who are not actually having blood taken may be asked to wait elsewhere.
When your number is displayed and called go to the curtained area.
The phlebotomist will read the request forms, ask you to confirm your personal details and then prepare to take your blood sample.
Some blood tests have to be taken without use of a tourniquet as the result would be affected. Your phlebotomist will explain if this is the case for you. The tourniquet must be quite tight to be effective, but if you feel unduly uncomfortable please say so.
All our phlebotomists are fully trained and highly skilled in the withdrawing of blood samples. Please discuss any concerns that you have about the procedure with your phlebotomist.
Once the samples have been taken and the needle withdrawn, you will be asked to press on a pad to stop any bleeding. It is important that you press firmly as this helps to prevent bruising.
The phlebotomist will label all the tubes and prepare them to be taken to the laboratories for testing. If your blood test is urgent or you have been told to wait for the result, we will ensure that your sample is tested quickly.
The phlebotomist will examine the inside of the lower arms for a suitable site to withdraw blood. They will select appropriate containers for the specimens and apply a tourniquet to the arm a little above elbow level.
The phlebotomist will check that bleeding from the site of venepuncture has stopped, apply a dressing and send you on your way.
Results of your tests will be returned to the person who requested the tests.
