Does anyone know if we should still be attending the hospital for our blood tests?? I'm supposed to be having a blood test every 2 weeks at the moment and I am due a blood test next week?
UPDATE: I've just called the blood test booking line, they are still doing blood tests at one hospital but all blood tests at our other hospital have been cancelled. I explained I need a test every 2 weeks as on MTX and also have Chronic Kidney disease stage 3b, she said to still go and booked me in for monday morning!!
Good luck to anyone else who needs a blood test, please check with whom ever is doing your test before turning up!!
Thank you all for all your replies! Much appreciated Thank you! Stay safe all! :))
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Lisamac7414
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My OH had a letter to say do not attend for blood test (due Thurs) or for hospital prescription. Do not phone hospital. A phone call to say do not attend local clinic for blood test (also due this week) either. Wait for further instructions. I expect they will prioritise what is vital and what can wait.
Same here, Rheumatology appointment next week cancelled and blood test (2 weekly monitoring re methotrexate) is now cancelled - the blood test is a bit worrying advice had 3 abnormal liver readings but apparently no further information at this time. So, as the saying goes, I'm just going to 'keep taking the medicine' and cross my fingers! Hope you have better luck...
I'm in a similar situation regarding liver readings, but was taken off MTX for a few weeks. Blood test last week vastly improved. Had a phone call from my consultant yesterday to say restart MTX at half previous dose, blood tests to continue fortnightly at hospital, but any consultations with her will be by phone for the time-being.
Maybe it depends on each person's situation as to whether their tests continue or are cancelled. If you really need blood tests, I'm sure they have to find a way to get them done.
I get blood tests every 2 weeks and was contacted by gp surgery (shared care arrangement with hospital) to attend for blood tests with nurse at surgery tomorrow. GP’s is apparently closed now and just doing essential appointments and say they will be giving me mask and gloves etc at entrance.
I called and mine and they said to go to gp for them. Guess each department will have different way. Check with someone at hospital phlebotomy maybe best if can't get thru to department. Good luck mine at gp tomorrow then appt by phone
I am due mine today and the doctors surgery are going ahead with some appointments if deemed essential. I checked yesterday and I am still able to have mine done today as they are my essential rheumatology bloods. Apparently it is managed by a strict process to ensure only 1 in and 1 out and I am guessing PPE and hand washing will be instructed which is great. So it seems it is down to individual GPs to assess the need and then cancel or arrange based on this. I would not go if it was at the main hospital as the risk of becoming ill would be increased unless they too have changed their approach to support social distancing. Usually the blood testing area is heaving with people so not sure what they have done about that.
Thanx for reply! When I called the blood test booking line last week, there was only 2 places in my area (west mids) doing blood tests, both are local hospitals, stay safe! X
Try to asking hospital to send the tests needrd to your gp, mine did this. Though i know from experience west mids in some areas aren't the best. I moved from there due to this.
I had my blood test done this morning at my hospital and they are only doing it by appointment so no people in the normally busy waiting room, and any small queue that forms they are making sure everyone is 2 metres apart, Lots of hand foam everywhere too. The hospital was very quiet and only a few cars in the car park that is usually nearly full. My son works at a GP surgery and he recommends anyone having regular blood tests to get an appointment as early as possible so the footfall into the surgery is at a minimum. Stay safe.
I have my next test booked at the surgery for next Tuesday and as far as I know, it's still going ahead.
I have to say, I'm half tempted to cancel myself, but on the basis that they're prioritising our tests even when so much else is being cancelled, I can only assume they're important enough to take some (hopefully relatively) small risk and fingers crossed the surgery will be doing everything they can to minimise that.
Your blood tests are vital...if the drugs you are taking are having any adverse
effect on your body that will show up in these tests before you have any noticeable symptoms.
If you aren’t informed it has been cancelled ....please attend your appointment. Maybe in today’s uncertain times you could double check before you go.
It depends where you live, our towns GP surgery’s don’t do blood tests, they are referred to the local community hospital, as from Monday they are only doing emergency tests. I understand my general hospital is only doing appointments now, it also has cases of Covid-19 so not sure I want to go there. I went for a US to another of the groups hospital on Monday, I was seen, but the doctor deferred her lunch break to see me and told me to get out of the hospital straight away after. The latter two are in outer East London. Being on a bio med and Mtx I will take advices as have these 3 monthly, to issue the medications. Luckily I had some done last week, but these were for my GP , I have a telephone appointment on Friday with him. I suggest you ask either the hospital rheumy nurse, or your GP’s x
Just had an email from one of the members of our local RA group, asking us all if they have been able to get through to their rheumy team as she can’t, been trying for days, I guess they are inundated. Very difficult times. Good luck x
Ask your rheumy nurse,GP, or place where you have you blood tests....it will depend on your particular situation....every one should check for themselves,
Yes good advice, only problem is all the important phone lines you need to call for information are constantly engaged, which is understandable with what's going on, stay safe! X
Hi Lisamac. I rang my Medical Centre early last week and asked her if the bloods were still being taken (I had an appointment booked for 25 March). I told her I had RA and had to have the bloods taken every two weeks for now and she advised me that they are still doing the MTX bloods. I was also told to have bloods done by a nurse/practitioner over a week ago to check my kidneys as I have started a new BP medicine.
I phoned my GPs this morning as mines due Monday morning,she said nurse will phone before then as everyone needs screened before going to surgery and if I didn’t hear from them before Monday then I’ve to phone them on Monday morning
I went on Friday to my GP. Waited outside and pressed a buzzer for entry. I was then given a mask to wear throughout my appointment. Blood results came in as usual yesterday. M x
Hi,
I've been asking this same question as am due a bloods review next week.
So, I weighed up the risks between going to the surgery and putting myself at risk vs skipping the blood tests while I'm in self isolation.
Although the surgery will do their best to minimise the risk of catching the virus, from the experiences faced in Italy, the virus will probably be there, somewhere. Even if the risk is reduced to a very low degree by the surgery, with masks and gloves etc, I think I have to assume it still exists. The virus remains airborne for 3 hours and can enter our bodies through our eyes. So, I would definitely prefer to avoid the risk at all costs. I realise that treatment for covid-19 in hospitals will be available for all those people without underlying health conditions before me.
The risks for me of not having my blood tests are a) possible undetected damage from Methotrexate and/or b) my surgery refusing to prescribe further drugs. For the sake of a few weeks, I'm more willing to take this risk because, although the impact could be very important, it will be temporary. But, my condition is fairly stable, so I'm also taking this into account.
Again, the decision to break self isolation is a personal choice, as it's your health and life. It's clear that the NHS doesn't yet have a blanket approach to blood tests, and it's unlikely to do an individual risk assessment (because they are so busy). So, I think we all need to do what we think is right for us, taking into account our personal situations. Not easy decisions in these weird times.
I asked in an email and reply was to get bloods done. The hospital where I go to lab was a ghost town. Took all of 5 min. Got the results back the next day.
My RA appt isn't for a couple weeks but got an email telling me it would be a virtual visit with the Dr and to download an app to use for FaceTime with the Dr. Ain't technology Grand?
But Marsha, FaceTime isn’t secure. Our Rheumy Dept have asked us to download Zoom which is. I did so & I have a virtual appointment in a few minutes, that is if the Rheumy/Registrar is running to time.
Our Practice are screening by phone first a few days prior to appointment date & asked if you have symptoms in the meantime to call to let them know. I had mine on Tuesday, quarantine areas all over the general areas, reception & the lift. Questioned from the vestibule area a good way from the barrier the nurses asking the questions are behind & if ok they sanitise your hands. Sanitise again prior to using screen check-in, & after, then asked to hand sanitise again before exiting the premises.
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