I went to get a blood test

[CoolHands]

In a hospital dept. Flipping hell, it was like being in a blood farm - must be over 50 or 60 people there for 'bloods' with more coming and going all the time, it was so busy. I feel sorry for the people doing that job all day, literally an endless chain of people.

Anyway pleased to report that after battling the privately run car park etc my appointment is in fact next week

[768]

Warwick hospital's a bit like that, the blood test waiting room is shared with some other departments, one of which is sonography. It always seems to be rammed. I find the mix of people with good, bad or as yet unknown news a bit chilling. I get that joy again on Thursday.

Hope it goes well for you.

[C0ffin D0dger]

Not on the scale of your's by the sound of it but I have appointments at the chest clinic in Worcester hospital from time to time and that shares a waiting room with the vampire department, can be quite busy at times. The operate a "cheese counter" type scheme where you come in, take a number card, and wait your turn. Think the numbers only go up to sixty but I don't think I ever seen more than about 10 - 15 people waiting. Must be a pretty monotonous job. I hate blood tests as my veins don't show up easily and it has taken a couple of stabs sometimes. That said those in the vampire department never seem to miss, practice make perfect I guess.

[CoolHands]

it was in Barnet Hospital part of the Royal Free (chain or trust or whatever they are called)

Just had a look, a poor Phlebotomist (the person doing the job) only gets circa 10 quid an hour!

http://www.cv-library.co.uk/job/204573607/Phleboto...

[Marvtec]

CoolHands said:

In a hospital dept. Flipping hell, it was like being in a blood farm - must be over 50 or 60 people there for 'bloods' with more coming and going all the time, it was so busy. I feel sorry for the people doing that job all day, literally an endless chain of people.

Anyway pleased to report that after battling the privately run car park etc my appointment is in fact next week

They always seem pretty cheery to me. Not exactly a glamorous job but straightforward and stress free, quick bit of small talk with each person and a giggle when you get macho blokes who pass out at the sight of a needle/blood.

[Hilts]

I went to my local medical practice, just me and the nurse.

Relax, she was about 60.

[monamimate]

Appointment for a blood test?

I live in Belgium; when I need a blood test, I drive down to the local independent lab, check in, wait a maximum of 15 minutes (usually 5 or less), and my doctor has the results the next day.

All covered by my contributions/ insurance, so costs me nothing at the point of service.

Can't imagine a better health care service than the Belgian one

[MyM2006]

Can't remember ever having a blood test when younger but as of last year I've had one every 3 months, was a shock at the start finding out how busy it can be but have now worked out when to go, can be especially busy in the morning when people are trying to get their fasting tests done.

Can be very amusing waiting though, I remember one guy going in he must have been early twenties, all you could hear was him freaking out as they started to take the blood, he was worried they weren't going to leave him with enough blood!

[CoolHands]

"A pint? That's very nearly an armful!"

[227bhp]

monamimate said:

Appointment for a blood test?

I live in Belgium; when I need a blood test, I drive down to the local independent lab, check in, wait a maximum of 15 minutes (usually 5 or less), and my doctor has the results the next day.

All covered by my contributions/ insurance, so costs me nothing at the point of service.

Can't imagine a better health care service than the Belgian one

It's pretty much the same in the UK, I had one last week.
One difference - had to wait 7 days for the results.

[Riley Blue]

227bhp said:

monamimate said:

Appointment for a blood test?

I live in Belgium; when I need a blood test, I drive down to the local independent lab, check in, wait a maximum of 15 minutes (usually 5 or less), and my doctor has the results the next day.

All covered by my contributions/ insurance, so costs me nothing at the point of service.

Can't imagine a better health care service than the Belgian one

It's pretty much the same in the UK, I had one last week.
One difference - had to wait 7 days for the results.

According to that nice Mr Hunt, in the UK we'll be able to get results on-line in the future but he hasn't explained how to obtain an appointment in less than 10-14 days to deal with them.

[monamimate]

227bhp said:

monamimate said:

Appointment for a blood test?

I live in Belgium; when I need a blood test, I drive down to the local independent lab, check in, wait a maximum of 15 minutes (usually 5 or less), and my doctor has the results the next day.

All covered by my contributions/ insurance, so costs me nothing at the point of service.

Can't imagine a better health care service than the Belgian one

It's pretty much the same in the UK, I had one last week.
One difference - had to wait 7 days for the results.

I guess some tests do take longer to produce results than others, so maybe the performance isn't so different after all.

[RC1807]

monamimate said:

Appointment for a blood test?

I live in Belgium; when I need a blood test, I drive down to the local independent lab, check in, wait a maximum of 15 minutes (usually 5 or less), and my doctor has the results the next day.

All covered by my contributions/ insurance, so costs me nothing at the point of service.

Can't imagine a better health care service than the Belgian one

It's the same at the southern end of the E411 too

[Derek Smith]

I can get a blood test at my local GP service. I can get one within a couple of days. I never use the hospital.

[Riley Blue]

Derek Smith said:

I can get a blood test at my local GP service. I can get one within a couple of days. I never use the hospital.

I find they're far more adept at getting blood out of me at my GP (I'm a difficult bleeder) than in the phlebotomy department in a local hospital. I don't get such a huge bruise either.

[Terminator X]

CoolHands said:

it was in Barnet Hospital part of the Royal Free (chain or trust or whatever they are called)

Just had a look, a poor Phlebotomist (the person doing the job) only gets circa 10 quid an hour!

http://www.cv-library.co.uk/job/204573607/Phleboto...

If you pay peanuts ...

TX.

[anonymous-user]

I dread my blood tests at the local GP. One nurse chats away and gets the blood without me even noticing, the other one takes 2 or 3 attempts and leaves me looking like a junkie. A while ago, after she let me go, she called me back as she had forgotten she needed another sample. How I laughed ..

[Derek Smith]

Grahamdub said:

I dread my blood tests at the local GP. One nurse chats away and gets the blood without me even noticing, the other one takes 2 or 3 attempts and leaves me looking like a junkie. A while ago, after she let me go, she called me back as she had forgotten she needed another sample. How I laughed ..

I used to give blood regularly. Due to lack of attention one nurse had half a dozen goes, gave up and then went for the other arm. The vein in the original arm sort of collapsed. When I mentioned this to the practice nurse, explaining that I wanted her to use my right arm, she examined my other arm closely, tutting. She then apologised.

When I was a police officer in London we were forever being asked to give blood due to a problem during an operation. I once had my blood taken by a nurse with blood all the way down the front of her theatre gown. I think she saw my eyes widen and she said that it was all right as it was the patient's blood. She obviously thought this would make me feel better.

The surgeon had nicked an artery and they wanted fresh blood for the platelets, which would be livelier it seems. There were a dozen officers waiting, giving and having given blood and the call was still going out for more. When answering an emergency call I was asked when was the last time I'd given blood and I said three weeks. I then got a lecture about how often I could give blood, and that giving too frequently could harm me, whilst the nurse was sticking the needle in my vein.