BLOOD tests can now be booked outside work or school hours at the Friends Blood Taking Unit at St Cross Hospital.
By booking an appointment online, adults and children can now get their blood taken during extended opening hours.
Unit supervisor Norma Langridge said: “We have such good feedback about the care the phlebotomists in the unit provide, but people told us that they were having to book time off work or take their children out of school.
“We’ve listened to what they’ve told us, and we’re so pleased that we can now offer early morning, evening and Saturday appointments to people to fit around their busy lives.”
The £400,000 Friends Blood Taking Unit opened in December 2015, helped by £130,000 donated by the Friends of St Cross charity.
Friends chairman Willy Goldschmidt said: “We are delighted that the Friends Blood Taking Unit has made such a difference to the thousands of patients who have attended the unit every week since it opened. All credit to the great team for the service they have delivered.
“It is great to know they are now expanding and adapting the service to meet the demand which has increased significantly since the unit opened.”
By booking in advance online, adults and children can now get their blood taken at the following times:
· 7am-8am, Monday to Friday, excluding bank holidays
· 5pm-7pm, Wednesday
· 7am-10am, Saturday.
During the standard opening hours of 8am-4:45pm, Monday to Friday, people can pre-book appointments for either adults or children. For adults only, people can choose to walk into the unit to wait for a phlebotomist to be available during standard opening hours.
Free 30 minute car parking is also available at St Cross for people attending blood-taking appointments.
Visit www.swiftqueue.co.uk/uhcw.php to pre-book an appointment.
