STAFF at the Friends Blood Taking Unit at St Cross Hospital have celebrated the department’s first anniversary.
More than 91,000 outpatients have had blood taken since the £400,000 unit opened in December last year.
The service, made possible thanks to a £130,000 donation from the Friends of St Cross, has seen more patients bled within the first 15 minutes of checking in at the unit, rising from 53 per cent to 77.5 per cent.
Additionally, parents of nervous young visitors have praised the toys and sensory equipment available to distract them while they have blood taken.
Michelle Giles, senior phlebotomist at the unit, said: “We’ve been delighted with the success of the Friends Blood Taking Unit, and I can’t believe it’s been open a whole year.
“We’ve had such lovely comments from patients, especially about the sensory equipment funded by the friends for nervous children.
“We have exciting plans to improve the service even more over the next year, including offering the opportunity to book appointments in advance.”
Willy Goldschmidt, chairman of the Friends of St Cross, said The Friends were thrilled and humbled by the support received from the people of Rugby.
He added: “The contribution enabled us to continue making other donations which made a difference to the patient experience including the provision of a vein viewer.
“The improvement in the service is all the more remarkable when you learn that the team has bled over 14,000 more patients than in the previous year.
“We look forward to helping with other projects which extend the services provided at St Cross.”
