Blood test fail. Sorry this is just a grumble!

[Bon1]

morning all

Well after all my hand wringing about the timing of my blood test off I went yesterday morning.

alarm bells CLANGING when I heard the fateful words that they had “changed the system” and now the phlebotomists are not allowed to manually change the date on the request - and mine was obviously a week out due to being sick last week. All of which was documented!

The nhs is wonderful but any little wrinkle in the system and it seems to collapse. Sure enough despite assurances from phlebotomy my blood has been “lost”. I already find the whole process stressful and as you can imagine this really hasn’t helped.

Not sure how losing someone’s blood sample is even possible but with this new awful system I’m now stuck chasing the rheumatology nurses to try and get another fixed date. Can’t even trundle along at a time convenient to me to fix their mistake.

Sorry for the moan but I’m sure like many of you what I find most stressful about this is the feeling that you can’t speak to someone. I hate sending emails into thin air wondering when I will get a reply.

Right . Off to work I go! Wishing everyone a stress free day.

Bon X

[helenlw7]

My bloods have been ‘lost’ at least three times since Covid - I don’t know if this is linked.

[nanny_bee71]

All my blood tests are now done at the GP surgery by HCA - appointments booked via their online system so I can usually choose a convenient time and apparently the results are shared with the rheumy team

[Runrig01 in reply to nanny_bee71]

I have the same system. The onus is on me to book my blood tests when they are due. I can pick a day and time to suit me. It’s all done online via their app, so no waiting on the phone. There is special software that the Trust use to ensure the results are highlighted to my rheumatologist, and whenever I’ve had to call, they’ve had the latest results to hand. Much easier than trekking 22 miles to the hospital to have bloods done 👍

[Bon1 in reply to nanny_bee71]

So much better!! Wish mine was like that - we seem to be going backwards!

[Bon1 in reply to nanny_bee71]

thank you - I wish my system was like that!

[ABwn]

Sorry to hear you're having problems with your blood tests. Mine have been given back to my GP to do them now. This responsibility has been handed back at the same time as they have changed the system for getting in touch with the rheumatology dept.

[Bon1 in reply to ABwn]

Wish I could go back to my gp - my team actively say they want you to do them at the hospital

[Leics]

I feel your frustration even though I can get my bloods done at the GP’s I just ring them and take a form with me. My biggest issue is no one seems bothered to monitor them on my last test which I managed to get the results for it says they were deranged and I need a follow up. GP doesn’t have a clue and rheumy hasn’t been in touch and it’s almost impossible to ring them and get an answer as the people answering the phone if you’re lucky to get through aren’t medically trained 🤷‍♀️. I used to work in pathology and I’ve known that although they use the excuse the bloods were lost 99.99% of the time they weren’t labelled so had to be discarded and they’re covering their backs. Mine have been mixed up with another patient too which made me have to visit A&E two days on the trot unnecessarily. We are all human and of course mistakes can be made but not on my watch. I hope you manage to sort it out but I feel your frustration.

[fred42]

So, I am able to book my own blood tests at the GP using their online system, results sent to Rheumatology and GP. I can now see results on NHS app but GP will usually text me if she thinks I have a problem then I call Rheumatology help line.I feel so lucky!

[medway-lady]

Oddly enough I had an appointment today and it’s been cancelled for a blood test. These things are sent to try us! But at least they opened the booking line so didn’t have to wait for a ring back. So a minor victory for patient power. Xx