Phlebotomy (blood tests)
Appointments for blood tests are available every weekday morning with a specially trained member of staff. The majority of blood samples need to reach the laboratory by early afternoon and for this reason, we can only offer morning appointments.
As demand for phlebotomy appointments are high, it is recommended that you give as much notice as possible when making your appointment. Unless your doctor/hospital consultant has stated that your blood test needs to be done urgently, a routine appointment will usually suffice. A ‘routine’ appointment can be anything up to three weeks in advance.
You may be asked to starve/fast (ie have nothing to eat or drink) prior to your phlebotomy appointment and to accommodate these appointments we set aside some early morning appointments.
INR Clinic
All patients taking warfarin (a medication to thin their blood) should have regular checks to monitor their INR levels so that they can be prescribed the correct dose of warfarin.
Clinics are held regularly during the week run by specially trained staff (who work alongside a doctor). They will check your INR and advise on the amount of warfarin you should be taking.
If you attend the INR Clinic please remember to bring your 'yellow book' with you when you come to the clinic.