Guy’s blood tests moved.

[Gipsy123]

Guys phlebotomy has moved to the Cancer Centre from Tabard Annexe, as I found out the hard way when I went to have a blood taken yesterday.

it took a frustrating two hours of wandering around the hospital and ending up in tears before anybody could tell me where to go to have my blood taken for a haematology f/u phone call on Monday. I’m exhausted today as a result

If I have the blood tests done at Guys then at least I have consistent data, and more to the point they appear in my Guys record automatically. I had one set done at my local GPs, and it was a nightmare transmitting the information from my GPs to Guys.

It didn’t seem to be on anybody’s job description to tell me that the test would be in a different place from last time.

Ah well. I’ll see what the results are when I get the phone call on Monday. It may be that the doctor has to see them and release the results first, because there is as yet nothing showing on the epic my chart system.

I’ve been on momelitinib for abt 6 weeks now.

no more nausea, but I do feel dizzy if I stand up too quickly. So that’s easy – I just stand up slowly.

Best wishes and happy new year.

Rachel

[Rem31]

It sounds as though you had a very frustrating time and something went awry with communication. I guess they don’t expect non local patients to travel in for blood tests.

Guys blood tests have NOT moved.

It’s my understanding that Guys Mpn clinic appointments are held in the Tabard annexe and, on clinic days, patients attending face to face appointments that day have blood taken there and then and fast tracked for results. It’s not a walk in phlebotomy clinic.

Patients needing blood tests in between appointments or with no face to face appointment have blood taken at the cancer centre, a separate building next door along Great Maze Pond. No appointment required there and the blood tests requested should already be listed in the Guys and St Thomas system. The results are not available for patients to view in Guys MyChart until seen by the Mpn clinician who will be discussing them with the patient.

There are other phlebotomy centres in the Guys and St Thomas’ group around south London where blood can be taken. That maybe convenient for more local patients but I’m not up to date on details of those centres. Awhile back I had blood taken by a separate clinic at St Thomas’ and the results were available at Guys.

Personally, when I have Mpn phone appointments I prefer to have blood tests done locally via my GP. That way I see the results on the NHS app as soon as they’ve been viewed by my GP, sometimes same day depending on GP routine. Yes, I’ve a great GP practice. Rather than add to their admin I then forward the results to the Mpn clinic ahead of a phone appointment. There’s a dedicated results email box at Guys. That way I get to see the results ahead and can pretty much gauge how the appointment will go.

Overall I’ve had my frustrating moments in the past and it’s taken time to work out how it all works best for me. If you can contact your GP practice manager about the difficulties you’ve been having then hopefully systems already in place can work better for you too. I do hope so.

[Gipsy123 in reply to Rem31]

Dear Rem31.

Now I know that bloods on a non MPN clinic day will always be in the Cancer Centre, thats where I’ll go first. It would have been kind if one of the 5 different Guys employees I spoke to had known that, and not sent me chasing round the hospital. It was the receptionist in the haematology Day Unit who checked that the bloods were in the system, and finally gave me the right information., and explained where to go.

My blood results came through today on MyChart, in good time for me to see them before my Monday phone call.

By having the blood tests done at Guys I can see the trends on My Chart, and know that the clinician and I are looking at the same results.

When I’d had my first post mom. bloods done at my GP, and going through a huge hassle with my GP practice a. To get them ‘released’ by a GP, and then b. to get them uploaded as a pdf to the Guys system, via Daniel’s email , he then told me cheerfully that EPIC only showed results from blood tests taken at Guys, not blood results sent in even as a pdf. No idea if he’s right about that.

Which is why I decided that I’d take the Thameslink train from Redhill to London Bridge (20 mins) and get them done at Guys next time.

Still feeling tired and twitchy -not sure if mom is doing the trick.

Rachel

[Mostew]

Thank you for doing the upsetting hard work for me ! I can just imagine . Id have been in tears to .Hope results are going in a positive direction on monday

New years greetings to you

[Gipsy123]

PS. If you have a f2f clinic appointment at Guys, soon, do check if it’s in Tabard Annex or back in the tower.

And was waned (too late to come in a few days before) that bloods taken same day in Tabard wouldn’t be available for my first consult. Actually quite a lot were.

[ETket]

I understand that Haematology at Guy's moved on 2nd January to the 3rd Floor from the Tabard Annexe (because, I was told, it was getting too cramped for them to share the space with Urology); I had an appointment there on their first day there. I was lucky enough to have been warned about this (and the lovely staff were also getting used to the change), but the woman on the general hospital reception downstairs (whom I confirmed where I was now going with) had only been given notice of this minutes before I spoke to her and none of the hospital signage had changed. I do get text reminders before appointments. Did you get one with the new location on?

[Gipsy123 in reply to ETket]

No

[ETket in reply to Gipsy123]

That's bad luck.

[Cityreach in reply to ETket]

Hi

I have appt on 21st Jan at Guys usually ground floor in tabard annexe, have bloods done there prior to consultation when by then bloods results are back and discussed with consultant, I have not been told any changes where clinic is now held, I believe you are saying it's now 3rd floor what part of hospital is that in please, do you know which tower/ wing of hospital you now have to go to as its large hospital with different names for each part of hospital so I am prepared on day and is it still same process bloods done on arrival then see consultant once results back, thankyou

[Cityreach in reply to Cityreach]

Hi

Just checked my chart and the appt letter for 21st does actually say 3rd floor Southwark wing although no one actually mentioned the moving of clinic when I was there on 18th Dec had I not seen this post I would have been none the wiser, lesson learned to pay attention to letter not just appt slot on it, thanks for making me aware

[Gipsy123 in reply to Cityreach]

Here’s what x said to me in his last email:

“Please note that I have no involvement with clinics. Directing patients to respective sites/informing them of location changes is not in my remit, nor is it something I would know or be made aware of. If you have clinic queries, please contact our clinic clerks on 020 7188 2724.”

Anyway, looks as though the move from Tabard is permanent , and it’s handy to have a phone number to call to check clinic arrangements. Hope all goes well.

[Cityreach in reply to Gipsy123]

Thankyou so much, sending best wishes

[ETket in reply to Cityreach]

Yup, the Southwark wing sounds about right! Good luck with your appointment.

[Bluetop]

Thanks for the warning! Sorry you had such a frustrating experience.

Glad the momelitinib is looking good for you.

[Mazcd Partner MPNVoice]

Anyone attending Guy's Hospital should check their appointment letter carefully for details of where to go for blood tests.

[Gipsy123 in reply to Mazcd]

Yes indeed- and also where the clinic is.