Phlebotomy Service – making it easier for people to get the tests they need
Phlebotomy means taking a small sample of blood using a needle. It helps doctors check your health and diagnose medical conditions. This work is carried out by trained staff called phlebotomists.
Glasgow City Health and Social Care Partnership (HSCP)’s Phlebotomy Service provides both clinic appointments and home visits. As well as taking blood samples, staff can check blood pressure, pulse and collect urine samples. It’s a very busy service, taking around 17,500 blood samples every month. All referrals come from GP practices.
Liz Miller, Phlebotomy Service Nurse Team Leader, said: “Our Phlebotomy Service has continued to grow over the last year. We’ve made changes to make it easier for people to access the service and to support GPs with early prevention and health checks.
“One big improvement has been the rollout of blood pressure checks in clinics as well as during home visits. This has been welcomed by staff and patients and helps us spot health risks sooner.”
The service has also been working with 11 GP practices on a Chronic Disease Measurement Pilot. This partnership between the Phlebotomy Service, the Single Point of Access Team and GP practices is helping to build a better, long-term approach to monitoring long-term health conditions.
Feedback from staff has been very positive. Many say they value the chance to use more clinical skills and play a bigger part in patient care. This has helped build confidence and supported ongoing development across the team.
The pilot is still developing, and work is underway to simplify the referral process for GP practices and to find more clinical space across the city. This will help the service continue to grow and meet demand.
Looking ahead, the team is exploring a ‘Bloods and Go’ approach, where people could drop in for a blood test without booking an appointment. This idea is still being planned, but it could make the service even more convenient and accessible for communities across Glasgow.