Regular Blood Tests

[piglette]

My Medical Centre no longer does blood tests as of three months ago, so we now have to go to the local hospital. Is everyone happy to go to hospital to give blood under the present climate or are they giving it a miss for the time being?

[Hunter134]

In Canada they don t want us to go near a hospital.Iam skipping my bloodwork.

[HeronNS]

I only get tested once a year now, but if I were still getting them more frequently I would give it a miss now. There are probably very few conditions which need extremely close monitoring, leave the resources for those people. Most of the rest of us can manage, especially if we are used to dealing with our chronic conditions.

[PMRCanada]

I’m in Canada too, and am checking with GP tomorrow. Our local clinic is open, however I’m hoping I can avoid my bloodwork this month given I’m high risk and self isolating.

[Blearyeyed]

I think you will need to check with your hospital , unless they are taking blood for urgent cases I do not think they are wanting people to come for monitoring blood tests at the hospitals while heading to the peak of the crisis in the UK to protect the NHS and to protect people from the risk of infection .

[maria40]

I should have a calcium and vit D test but no way am I going to the hospital at the moment. As long as I can get my milk and cheese supplies I think I'll be alright. I don't think the risk is worth taking unless the blood test is urgent.

[PMRpro Ambassador]

If it were for methotrexate or any of the other drugs you need monitoring for I probably would go - but would ask for advice first. We got all ours done in the first week, just before lockdown. OH needs regular INRs done but that can be done at the GP as it is a finger stab and machine like diabetic checks but we spent a small fortune on our own a couple of months ago when he was ill - it would have paid for a holiday but I don't regret it now.

[piglette]

I phoned the hospital today about my blood tests only to be told that the hospital has closed down the blood test department altogether and go back to my GP. As my GP now only has one nurse who can do blood tests I think I will need to be a lot sicker to have mine.