Book a blood test

When will the online blood test appointment system (Swiftqueue) be rolled out for Epsom and St Helier hospital patients?

The online blood test appointment system (Swiftqueue) is live now! A limited version was rolled out on 17th August 2020. Patients turning up for blood test at Epsom or St Helier hospital are now able to book an appointment online using Swiftqueue. A wider service will progressively be rolled out allowing patients to book for blood test in community served by Epsom and St Helier phlebotomy.

How can a patient book a blood test at a participating site?

Swiftqueue is a web based platform. Patients can book the blood test by using a PC or a phone and by going on to the following the link https://www.epsom-sthelier.nhs.uk/blood-tests.  

What if patients are unable to book blood tests online themselves?

In circumstances where a patient is unable to book the blood test online themselves, they can be helped by there family members or carers to set up an account. Alternately clinicians/admin staff can create an account for themselves and book an appointment on there patient’s behalf (See SOP on how to do this by clicking here https://www.epsom-sthelier.nhs.uk/blood-tests). A phlebotomy helpline is also available if all of the above are not an option. Patients can call 020 8296 2846, Monday to Friday between 8am–12.30pm and 1.30pm–4pm, to get help book the blood test.

Are there any changes to the opening hours of the blood testing service?

No, there are no changes to the opening hours which remain as following:

St Helier Hospital:      Monday to Friday, 07.30am-4.30pm

Epsom Hospital:        Monday to Friday, 08.30am-4.30pm

What other phlebotomy sites are available to book for a blood test ?

Apart from the main phlebotomy areas at Epsom and St Helier hospital, we also carry out phlebotomy clinics at a number of locations within the community. Booked appointments will be progressively rolled out at all these sites and would be available for booking via the Swiftqueue website. Most of these sites would be booked appointment only. The list of these clinics and when the appontment system will be rolled out can be accessed through the following link https://www.swiftqueue.co.uk/esh.php .

Are there any changes to the number of patients that will be able to have their bloods taken each day?

No, there is no change to the number of patients that can have their blood taken each day. Please ensure you remind your patient to wear a face covering and follow the social distancing rules and not attend if symtomatic for symptoms suspicious of coronavirus or isolating following a contact.

What will happen if a patient walks in without an appointment booked?

The Trust will maintain a limited walk-in service for patients requiring blood test after attending an outptient clinic, certain vulnerable patient groups and for those requiring urgent same day blood. Patients who otherwise walk-in will be given an appointment at the next available time for that day, if available, or offered to book an appointment for another day.

Will clinicians be able to access same day blood tests for patients?

We will be holding a number of urgent slots for patients who need to be bled the same day. These slots can be accessed by marking the ICM form as urgent or by writing ‘urgent/same day’ on the form in the free text box or manually. Please use this service judicially as the slots would be limited.

What happens when the patient arrives for their blood test?

When a patient arrives, they will need to check in. Currently, the receptionists will do this, as they do now, but In the next few week we will be introducing check-in kiosks at both Epsom and St Helier hospital main outpatient phlebotomy areas. The patient will be required to sit in the waiting room with appropriate IC measures in place until it is their turn. They will be directed to the appropriate bay when the phlebotomist is ready.

What happens when a patient is late for an appointment?

If a patient is more than 15 minutes late they will have the choice of either waiting until the next available slot that day, if there is one available, or rebooking for another day.

Who should I contact for further information?

Please contact Asam Saeed, Phlebotomy Service Manager, via email at asam.saeed@nhs.net or call 020 8296 2846/ 01372 735921 or Dr Nikhil Johri, Clinical Lead and Quality Lead for Pathology and Phlebotomy.

We provide a booked phlebotomy (blood test) service at Epsom Hospital. You must have a booked appointment to attend this service.  If you have not made an appointment, you will be given details to book an appointment and asked to return at the time of your appointment”. 

It is really important that you do not attend for a blood test if you, or someone you live with, is experiencing any Covid symptoms.  Please speak to the clinician who asked you to have a blood test and find out if the blood test can wait until you are feeling better.  Please do not bring anyone with you to your blood test unless they are a registered carer; this includes children.  Please ensure you are wearing a face covering when you attend for your appointment; if you don’t have one, one will be provided for you.

Blood testing service is located on the ground floor, Headley Wing, the service is open 8.30am – 4.30pm, Monday to Friday, except bank holidays. Please click below for Epsom Hospital map to find us.

Epsom Hospital map [pdf] 2MB

We provide a booked phlebotomy (blood test) service at St Helier Hospital. You must have a booked appointment to attend this service. If you have not made an appointment, you will be given details to book an appointment and asked to return at the time of your appointment”. 

It is really important that you do not attend for a blood test if you, or someone you live with, is experiencing any Covid symptoms.  Please speak to the clinician who asked you to have a blood test and find out if the blood test can wait until you are feeling better.  Please do not bring anyone with you to your blood test unless they are a registered carer; this includes children. Please ensure you are wearing a face covering when you attend for your appointment; if you don’t have one, one will be provided for you.

Blood testing service is located on the ground floor, Ferguson House; the service is open 7.30am - 4.30pm, Monday to Friday, except bank holidays. Please click below for St Helier Hospital map to find us.

St Helier Hospital and Queen Mary's Hospital for Children site map [pdf] 1MB

We provide a booked phlebotomy (blood test) service at Sutton Hospital. You must have a booked appointment to attend this service. If you have not made an appointment, you will be given details to book an appointment and asked to return at the time of your appointment.

It is really important that you do not attend for a blood test if you, or someone you live with, is experiencing any Covid symptoms. Please speak to the clinician who asked you to have a blood test and find out if the blood test can wait until you are feeling better.  Please do not bring anyone with you to your blood test unless they are a registered carer; this includes children. Please ensure you are wearing a face covering when you attend for your appointment; if you don’t have one, one will be provided for you.

Blood testing service at Sutton Hospital is located in Malvern Centre, 8.30am–12.30PM, Monday to Friday.

Please click below for Sutton Hospital map to find us.

Sutton map [pdf] 45KB

We offer blood tests at a variety of other sites in Sutton and Merton. Please note that these clinics are for those registered with a GP in either borough.

Please see open the leaflet below for details.

Where to get your blood test[pdf] 514KB

Blood tests for children under 10 years of age at St Helier are by appointment at Queen Mary's Hospital for Children, if they are above this age, then you will be able to book into St Helier Hospital Ferguson House via the Adult Blood Tests option. Please click on blue “Book an appointment” icon above to book an appointment at Queen Mary's Hospital for Children or St Helier Hospital Ferguson House.

For blood tests for children under the age of 12 at Epsom general Hospital, please phone Ebbisham Ward on 01372 735735 ext 5234. If they are above this age, then you will be able to book into Epsom Hospital Headley Wing via the Adult Blood Tests option. Please click on blue “Book an appointment” icon above to book an appointment at Epsom Hospital Headley Wing.

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. Let the member of staff on reception know if you have fasted.

Some patients with urgent bloods are given priority. This may mean that people appear to be jumping the queue; please be assured that this is not the case.

Take a seat in the waiting area. The waiting room can get very busy at times, people who are not actually having blood taken may be asked to wait elsewhere.

It is helpful if you are wearing garments with sleeves that can easily be pushed up over your elbow or have short sleeves. 

At your appointment time your name will be called. The phlebotomist will read the request forms, ask you to confirm your personal details and then prepare to take your blood sample. 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 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.

Your doctor has requested that you attend for a fasting blood test. This may be for glucose or lipid/cholesterol testing.

For this test to be performed you are required to fast overnight prior to the blood test. This means that you should consume no food or drink (except plain water) for up to 12 hours before the blood test.

You may continue to drink water during the fast but not more than the equivalent amount of fluid you would normally drink in that period.

Please continue to take any prescribed medication with water only.

Failure to comply with this fasting period may result in unclear results being obtained, which could be misinterpreted or require a repeat of the entire procedure.

What is a lipid profile?

A lipid profile is a group of tests that are often requested together to determine your risk of coronary heart disease. The tests that make up a lipid profile are tests that have been shown to be good indicators of whether someone is likely to have a heart attack or stroke caused by blockage of blood vessels.

What tests are included in a lipid profile?

The lipid profile includes total cholesterol (sometime called bad cholesterol), HDL-cholesterol (often called good cholesterol), total cholesterol/HDL ratio, and triglycerides. Sometimes the report will include additional calculated values such as HDL/Cholesterol ratio.

How is a lipid profile used?

The lipid profile is used to guide clinicians in deciding how a person at risk should be treated. The results of the lipid profile are considered along with other known risk factors of heart disease, such as high blood pressure or diabetes to develop a plan of treatment and follow up.

Instructions for coming for a lipid profile test

We recommend you fast for 12 hours before the blood test. For example if you are due to have the test at 9am, you should fast from 9pm the evening before. This is because eating and drinking can affect the test results.

During this time, no food and drink (including any form of coffee or tea) should be consumed. You can however have plain water.

On the morning of the test avoid smoking or carrying out any rigorous exercise as these can also affect the result of the test.

Failure to fast for the required period may result in unclear results being obtained, which could be misinterpreted or require a repeat of the entire procedure.

If you are diabetic on insulin or diabetes medications (apart from metformin only) you do not need to fast, however please let the phlebotomist carrying out the blood test know.