Success of ‘drive through’ blood testing means service now available to all patients
The ‘drive through’ blood testing service set up by Sheffield Hospitals at FlyDSA Arena and Sheffield City Trust has been so successful it is now being expanded to all patients who need a blood test.
The service, which was set up on 8th April was initially available primarily for vulnerable patients to have vital tests without going into hospital and risking infection or social distancing guidance.
Due its success over the last two weeks, Laboratory and Phlebotomy teams at Sheffield Teaching Hospitals are now extending the availability of the service to all patients who have been asked by the hospital or their GP to have a blood test. Once the patient has been given the request form by the GP or hospital, they can simply turn up at the Arena between 9am and 4.15pm Monday to Friday for the test. No appointment is necessary. Patients must bring the form from the GP or hospital with them because the test cannot be done without it.
Once at the Arena, the patient will drive into a marquee and be met by a specialist team to have their details checked and test requirements identified. They will then have their samples taken from the safety of their vehicle and once finished drive away. The results of the tests, once analysed, will be available to hospital clinicians or GPs via electronic reporting systems enabling continuation of patient treatment as normal.
Richard Wardle, Lead Laboratory Manager at Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust said:
“We are very pleased with how successful the blood testing service has gone over the last two weeks and wanted to make sure that all patients who require routine blood tests are able to make use of it. Our team have been doing an amazing job running the service which has currently had upwards of 200 patients coming through each day. We have the capacity to do a lot more than this and so want to make sure that all patients are aware of this alternative blood testing service and do not put off getting their routine blood tests taken. For patients who cannot use the drive through service, we will continue to provide blood tests at the Hallamshire and Northern General Hospitals but with additional measures in place to limit the risk of transmission of infection and to ensure social distancing.”
*Please note, our drive through blood taking service is now located at Building 183 (former blood service), Longley Lane, Sheffield, S5 7JN. The opening times at Longley lane are Monday to Friday (excluding Bank Holidays) 8am to 5pm and Saturday 8.30am to 1pm. For more information about the service please follow this link: https://sheffieldhospitalscoronavirus.co.uk/drive-through-blood-tests.html
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