Forum Topic

No more Blood Tests at Hammersmith and Charing Cross Hospital

Just got a text message from Crown Street Surgery to say that all Blood Tests would now be carried out at Hillingdon Hospital as opposed to rocking up at Hammersmith or Charing Cross Hospital.What a buffoon who thought that idea up.peed off big time.

Tony Crumpton ● 4083d27 Comments

Perhaps I was rather naive Sara??? After all they keep assuring us that all these changes are for the better! Now who would believe all the hype?Of course we are not stupid! Money is at the root of all these changes with decisions taken by those without medical qualifications.They look at the prospects of selling off land to developers for big bucks, Take Charing Cross for example which will find that they will end up with something like 24 beds, how ridiculous is that?These changes are not just happening in this area! Whipps Cross Hospital is spread over a large area, developers are rubbing their hands in glee at fhe prospect of getting hold of some of that land. There patients are expected to trravel to Romford for treatment.The fact that there is a nuge increase in residents is not taken into consideration.The best advice one can offer is just hope you don't become ill!

Jean F Fernandez ● 4079d

"None of these changes appear to be for the benefit of the patient." Foolish, foolish woman. What on earth made you think that the benefit of the patients would be anywhere on the list of priorities for this sort of decision-making?

Sara Nathan ● 4079d

Yes, I've always had blood tests done at Cloister Rd - and they open at 7am some mornings! Although I don't know if that's Doc appointments or nurses too. Worth asking, anyone who wants to sort it before work!

Elly Belpassi ● 4079d

You are quite right Nancy, it is a case of getting to Acton Health Centre before 8am and wait in the queue as they currently only allow 30 people queuing for blood tests.Also, I would point out that currently blood tests are not done on a daily basis so perhaps they will have to maks some changss to this arrangement. It is awful having to wait outside the surgery in a freezing cold morning, and if you ard late then you might have to fast another day and try again. This happened to my husband before. Not an ideal situation. A least there is somewhere indoors to wait for blood tests at Hammersmith Hospital.None of these changes appear to be for the bemefit of the patient.

Jean F Fernandez ● 4080d

Trouble with the Acton Health Centre blood test service is that you have to queue up from about 8am and they take only 30 people per session (at least that's the way it was about a year ago). The slots are usually filled well before the session begins, so you have to try the next day.

Nancy Duin ● 4080d

Thanks for this information Bob, I could never envisage either my husband or myself travelling all the way to Hillingdon Hospital in Uxbridge.Hopefully our clinic Acton Health Centre will carry out the blood tests in future.

Jean F Fernandez ● 4080d

Hillcrest surgery have news of this on their website it goes as follows :-Changes to Phlebotomy Services ( posted on Jul 9, 2015 ) From 1st July Ealing CCG has commissioned services for processesing blood and urine samples from Hillingdon Hospital (it had previously been Hammersmith Hospital).As part of this change patients will no longer be able to attend the walk-in blood service at Hammersmith Hospital for blood tests that have been requested by our GPs.  Patients are also not expected to attend Hillingdon Hospital for blood tests.Patients who require blood tests should book in to our phlebotomy clinics here at the Surgery.  We are training up more staff to take more bloods in house but in the mean time if there is not enough capacity there are additional blood clinics at Acton Health Centre and our receptionists can give you the details of these.Some patients may still have bloods taken at Hammersmith Hospital but only if requested by a consultant as part of outpatient care or pre-operative preparation and not those requested by a GP.Although the change-over has been difficult for us one benefit is that we now have access to the results of any blood test our patient has taken at a hospital in North West London.  This means that if you've had a recent blood test for example during a hospital admission then because we can access that result we may not need to ask you have another blood test here.

Bob Crossley ● 4080d

By bike its one hour and five minutes. Think most people with disability would take two days.The whole system is madness, thought up by a lunatic. We the millions, have no say.Remember the Witch and the Poll Tax, and the demonstrations that took place. A U turn only to become council tax.If it ain't broke, don't fix it.  Blood tests weren't broke.  Seems more like the fate of Hammersmith and Charing Cross have become done deals with greedy developers, and we the sheep are being kept in the dark.

Ewan Howard ● 4081d

How about Acton Mainline?Does that go there (though even if it does, I imagine it's only about once a fortnight)

Sara Nathan ● 4081d

No thanks!

Jean F Fernandez ● 4081d

6 mins tube District line to Ealing Broadway Underground Station14 mins national-rail First Great Western to West Drayton Rail Station9 mins bus U1 bus or U3 bus to Hillingdon Hospital3 mins walking Walk to 1 Pield Heath Road, Uxbridge

Ewan Howard ● 4081d

I've just had a look online to see that Hillingdon Hospital Trust won the bid about a year ago to provide this pathology service for £30 million over 5 years.They kept this a secret. I can see why. Not happy.

Ana Strachan ● 4081d

Exactly Sara!There is no way my husband and I will be going to Hillingdon Hospital in Uxbridge for blood tests, or any other tests!

Jean F Fernandez ● 4081d

It was a decision by the local CCG apparently - NOT the individual surgeries - according to Dr Pambakian.He says there will now be 4 phlebotomy clinics a week at Crown Street.Still seems a barking and (as usual) not patient-focused idea. I have blood tests once a quarter and tend to cycle up to Hammersmith rather than make an appointment - with varying success. Wouldn't dream of going to Hillingdon (where is it anyhow? somewhere far west of here?)

Sara Nathan ● 4081d

You can book a blood test at Crown Street but working I found it easier to pop into the Hammersmith early in the morning on the way to work. This will not now be possible at either the Hammersmith or Charing Cross and I am certainly not going to traipse all the way out to Hillingdon and then have to cone all the way back into town to go to work especially as my blood tests are fasting ones.

Tony Crumpton ● 4082d

My husband recently had a blood test and a Glucose Tolerance Test at our GP's surgery whicch we thought was fantastic, it's very boring waiting at Hammersmith Hospital for 2 hours to have the second blood test to check glucose levels.Part of the blood test was for the Lipids Clinic, unfortunately when we collected the printout it was only for the Glucose Tolerance Test so poor hubby had to fast again another day and go to Hammersmith Hospital for the blood test! What a waste of time.Fortunately they had the results available just in time for the Lipids Clinbic.So the lack of communication between the GP's Surgery and the hospital was the problem.In this day and age we should not have to go through all this just to have a blood test.Now what was it they said? 'Working together for a healthier future'  Sonehow I don't think so.Another point, when patients reach a certain age they are more or less told they have no further need to attend certain clinics - put in the scrap heap I fear!

Jean F Fernandez ● 4082d

I haven't received any messsages which is just as well as I didn't understand any of them.My GP surgery (Cloister Road) does blood tests by appointment several days a week. I wouldn't bother trekking to any hospital when I can get the same service down the road. I can only assume that Crown Street are hosting the phlobotomist for other surgeries. I've been sitting on the selection board for the intermediate service (i.e. the at home service for people who are not acutely ill enough to be in hospital, but still need medical care ) The decision has been made in principle, but due diligence is continuing so no announcement just yet. I will post more on this when I am allowed.

Maire Lowe ● 4082d

Tony's first message said Crown Street were sending peeps to Hillingdon. Why then is Hillcrest sending peeps to Crown. Confused.

Bob Crossley ● 4082d

Had a blood test done at Charing Cross A&E Monday night.  The results revealed that I had pneumonia in the right leg. I sincerely hope they meant right lung.I refuse to go to Crown St as I'm likely to give Pambakian a sound piece of my mind for not treating pneumonia and pleurisy some 8 years ago, plus there was an official complaint made against Crown St. I guess we are all doomed.

Ewan Howard ● 4082d

This get's worse how on earth is Crown Street Surgery going to cope with the influx of extra folk needing blood tests? The whole idea is a total joke especially to those of us who work full time in the Centre of London.

Tony Crumpton ● 4082d

Just had this reply from Hillcrest Surgery. Not sure I fully understand it."We have now changed over from Hammersmith to Hillingdon, and are sending all the patients to either crown street surgery or Acton health centre, however if you have an appointment with a consultant at hammersmith hospital please go to this appointment as we can always get them to fax the blood results back to the surgery"

Bob Crossley ● 4082d

My GP (and probably many others) can take blood samples, and they are delivered to the lab for testing. Hammersmith (Du Cane Road) does still do blood testing for both in- and out-patients, and they are examined on site, but there is always a queue even for scheduled appointments, with patients often kept waiting when treatment depends on the results.

Christopher Bell ● 4082d

HILLINGDON HOSPITAL??? Is this some sort of sick joke? If so it's not amusing!What on earth are they are playing at? Imagine having to go all the way to UXBRIDGE for a fasting blood test, the idea is absolutely crazy.This is failing the public. Why don't they just close all the hospitals and to hell with the patients, that's the way things are going!!!

Jean F Fernandez ● 4082d

The Community nurse told me that a vampire sucker will make a home visit, but this request has to go through the GP. Could care in the community be the way. Only draw back is, you have to have a severe illness or disability that makes travel impossible.

Ewan Howard ● 4082d

Last time I went for a blood test at Hammersmith I had to wait over an hour. Combine that with Charing Cross and your in for a nice day out in Hillingdon. St Mary's in Paddington would be more convenient f they do blood tests

Bob Crossley ● 4082d

Yep Uxbridge was. It's a barking idea. The Surgery did say that there would be additional community clinics. I work full time so Hammersmith Hospital was ideal on the way into work.Now you will have to go out to Uxbridge and then back again and also it will cost extra on the tube. Who will refund that cost?

Tony Crumpton ● 4083d

Where is it? Am I right in thinking - Uxbridge?! This is madness. Save our hospitals campaign continues to try to oppose some of the crazy decisions that are being made. If you would like to join us, the next meeting is on Tuesday 21st July at 7.30opm at Northfields Community Centre.

Chris Hurley ● 4083d