Blood Test Mixup

[heartmatters1]

My husband & I recently received letters from our

GP practice advising us that their database need to be up-to-date (due to NICE guidelines) for people who are on NOACS & that relevant tests are showing to have been done. Hence appointments were made to have bloods taken.

These were done on Monday. I went first, husband after. As an afterthought he asked what the test was for. The nurse said it was for his prostate PSA (which he has to have 6 monthly following his cancer). However, he’d had this test last month. So thought I would then ask what I had been tested for ...... told it was for my cholesterol. Couldn’t believe it! When my husband made the appointments for us he handed the letters to the receptionist, who should have then clipped it to the blood envelope, or relevant form completed. Not rocket science 🤬

Apology was made by receptionist saying she didn’t know what happened there & appointments were made again to have the correct tests done.

If we hadn’t asked no one had been the wiser, as we’re not sure if the error would have been picked up.

What a waste of time, money & resources. I’m

sure it must be happening all the time.

Sorry for the rant, but a lesson learnt as to ask what you are being tested for. Which we shouldn’t have to. I know not everybody can.

Right bloods taken this morning, hence doubly bruised 😫. Always have problems with taking my blood - told I have very small veins.

Best wishes Ally

[rosyG]

Annoying!! Glad it’s sorted!

[Clarrie]

I went for my blood tests this week and the nurse asked me what the blood tests were for!

[heartmatters1 in reply to Clarrie]

It’s a good job we are on the ball. Some people are not so, which is worrying.

[dedeottie]

Honestly, I think it very scarey just how absolutely on the ball we have to be. As you say, there are many people who are unable to be so proactive. I can think of at least 3 occasions when my life would have been in serious danger if I hadn’t questioned what was about to happen. Some of it is down to our broken NHS but honestly I can’t help but think that a lot of it is down to apathy and incompetence.

I don’t know what the answer is. X

[heartmatters1 in reply to dedeottie]

To much pressure on our beloved NHS. Not enough staff, but more patients! I worked in the NHS for 30 years (in an admin role) retired a couple of years ago. I have seen the cutbacks & the need to discharge people, sometimes before they are 100% ready, because of the bed shortage. Obviously standards are dropping. It makes me very sad 😞. However, we wouldn’t manage without it, & it also makes me very proud of the fantastic job (most of the time) that is being done, given the lack of resources x

[jennydog]

This rings a bell.

Last months 2 district nurses arrived here unexpectantly. Said they wanted a blood sample. OK.

Thinking cholesterol was involved I told them that I had stopped taking the statin but still took Pradxa & Bisoprolol.

Subsequently my GP rang in a lather having been told that I'd stopped taking Pradaxa. Once I had reassured him he said " I thought it was funny as I was sure that you understood the importance of anticoagulation."

This is not the first time that I have had trouble with nurses not understanding NOACs. At a pre- op a nurse recorded my dosage of Pradaxa and then asked for my most recent INR.

[heartmatters1 in reply to jennydog]

🙄 tut!

[dedeottie]

A nurse asked me why on earth I needed a flu jab as AF wasn’t serious. X

[heartmatters1 in reply to dedeottie]

Beggars belief!

[DawnTX]

I know mistakes have happened, but this is horrible. Yes, having to make the trip and deal with the test more than once I would be angry also. Check check and double check. They shouldn’t be in so much of a hurry when it comes to life.