South West Bedfordshire MP, Andrew Selous, has warmly welcomed the increase in community phlebotomy provision in Dunstable, as explained by NHS Bedfordshire in the attached news release.
Andrew Selous said:
“I am delighted to see an increased provision for community phlebotomy in Dunstable as from today. I look forward to its return to Houghton Regis before too long as well. I know how difficult it has been for many of my constituents to get to Arndale House in Luton and this new service will be much more convenient for them.”
Update on Phlebotomy Services in Dunstable
Bedfordshire Clinical Commissioning Group (BCCG) is pleased to confirm that a new service providing community phlebotomy will be provided from Dunstable Health Centre in Priory Gardens, Dunstable as from Monday 22 October 2018.
This will be a new service and will run parallel to the phlebotomy service already provided by the Luton and Dunstable (L&D) Hospital which operates from both the Arndale House in Luton and on the hospital site itself.
The service, commissioned by BCCG, will be provided by East London Foundation Trust (ELFT) and will be available to patients registered with the following GP practices in the Chiltern Vale locality and Barton Le Clay village:
- Kingsbury Court Surgery
- Wheatfield Surgery
- Priory Gardens Surgery
- West Street Surgery
- Houghton Regis Medical Centre
- Eastgate Surgery
- Caddington Surgery
- Toddington Medical Centre
- Kirby Road Surgery
- Barton Surgery
These GP practices do have a practice based phlebotomy service but have restrictions, which means that not all patients are able to access the service (due to space restrictions, these appointments are usually protected for the over 75).
Patients will be referred by their practice to the new community service, which will operate a walk in system. Patients who would normally be referred to the L&D phlebotomy service will now be offered a choice between having their bloods taken at the Arndale House in Luton or at the community-based service in Dunstable Health Centre.
The new service will run from Dunstable Health Centre from 8am until 1pm Monday through to Thursday.
ELFT are aiming to secure a further clinic in Houghton Regis on Fridays between 8am -1pm as soon as appropriate premises have been secured.
For patients who have previously been able to have blood tests taken at their own GP surgery, this service will continue for them.
Some patients will need to continue to attend the Luton & Dunstable hospital site for specialised blood tests, this includes:
- Children under 12
- Anticoagulation patients
- Those requiring patient transport
- Those receiving specialised blood tests
- Those requiring special access needs
- Chemotherapy patients