Im not very comfortable about having regular blood tests taken with this virus. Phlebotomists take a lot of people's blood throughout the day. My local hospital and GP ones, don't wear gloves and there is a lot of hand and close contact with them, more so because my veins are scarred, so difficult to get blood out.
Anyone else have this concern? You can't go home and scrub that touched needled area with soap and water..
I am within commuter distance toNYC with widespread virus for the last month. Missing weekly blood tests is not an option for me. They are practicing hygiene spotlessly and wearin PPE . I feel as safe as one can. This virus crisis will most likely last longer than 18 months we can not avoid medical procedures for that long. The alternative of missing the testing is worse for me than catching the virus. Life is albout risk/benefit ratios.
It's good your phlebotomists have PPE and gloves. Don't know the full situation here with our medical staff. The knock on effect of this virus, especially for all the people already with their health issues, I fear will be phenomenonal in the end.
They should all be wearing gloves and I would make a complaint - but actually it is more for their protection than yours. They are a lot more at risk from blood borne diseases such as Hep C than you are from them. They should be hand sanitising or washing hands before any patient.
And currently I think you will find far fewer patients there along with you than normally.
At the gp surgery they will only be doing urgent bloods such as us lot! So they won't have many to do and there won't be many people about , I've been told there will be only 1 other patient in the surgery at the same time as me and we will be at the other end of the large waiting room.
I'm really anxious about going as I'm shielding, there may be an option for the health care assistant to come to my home but I'm not sure about this either as she will have been in other people's houses??
The phlebotomy team and nurses will be cleaner than ever, u can always tell them to wear gloves if u feel uncomfortable. I suspect they may not wear gloves if u have difficult veins as they will be hard to feel with gloves on.
Do can definitely clean your arm when u get home that's not a problem.
Thanks for the blood update. I havent been since February, before the virus increased, when there was lots of people with blood appointments, so thanks for the current people 'headcount'.
That gives me some confidence to go. Unfortunately for me, on most occasions, I am bruised and scratched quite a bit, (arm aches and bruised for a few days) depends who does it, no choice of person and it's that situation, you can't wash your arm properly, if that makes sense. I've got to make a decision because I must go in April. Worrying times...
I have never had my bloods done by someone who hasn't literally just washed their hands. This is to avoid any transmission of germs / viruses from their hands to your arm. At the hospital they do it in front of me but at my GP surgery I know they do it just before I walk in, as her hands are often still slightly damp or she's drying them when I walk in. The risk is therefore extremely minimal from her touching your arm.
They are also much more aware than us about not touching their faces normally and might even be wearing PPE at the moment (if there is enough). The needles are in sterile packs and so there shouldn't be anything that can get in there. Unless your nurse is literally coughing then there is very very low risk.
You touching your front door handle, garden gate and the doctors surgery door (plus any car door or pedestrian crossing buttons) are probably higher risk so you may wish to wear some cosy or leather gloves. Also obviously wash your hands when you get home.
As said above, clinics are also greatly reduced at the moment or cancelled all together so the waiting rooms will not be full. The hospitals and doctors surgeries are being very strict about social distancing and only having patients attending if absolutely necessary.
Hope this helps x
Always keep my gloves on, as I live in a block of flats, so my hands don't touch any surfaces. Even keep them on when driving, especially now ive just recently had an MOT done. Thanks, your advice has been helpful.
Hi, I can understand your worry, as I was very nervous going into work last week with me having lupus. I work in a GP practice NHS and can assure you all clinical staff are wearing PPE, all GP practices are following strict Public health guidance to limit patient contact, we are only seeing urgent patients for bloods like yourself, and holding telephone consultations before any patient is allowed into the building.
You need to have your bloods done to keep you as safe as possible health wise. If you want reassurance ring your GPs and speak to nurse just to put your mind at ease. Good luck! 😊
I will ring them on Monday. Thanks.
Ask your doctor if you really need to get the bloodwork done (which is very necessary for some medication/health checks, but not for others). The doctor might be OK with skipping a particular round right now. I've had some doctor's appointments cancelled if they weren't critical, and depending on why you're getting the tests, you might be able to skip them for a couple months if your doctor says that it OK.
Hi. I've had the skip from 1 to 2 months tests, which will be due in April. I'm Mychophenolate mofetil, which ive had a couple of issues with the last 2 years on and off, so I'll have to bite the bullet and go, but better prepared, so that I'm in and out.
I had to come out of shielding yesterday to drive to the drs surgery for my 2 weekly amber drug blood test! I was pretty scared tbh!
Luckily my friend is a fellow nurse at the surgery and arranged for their hca to come out to me and do the bloods at my car as I wasnt really comfortable going into the surgery (altho I'm sure it's very clean and they are doing their best) I just feel so safe being at home and now just dont want to go anywhere that's not in my control.
So I've had them done now and now I can go onto monthly
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