Relocation of some blood test services to help improve patient waiting times

Update from The Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust:

Some phlebotomy (blood test) services at Princess Royal Hospital (PRH) in Telford are being relocated to support and help improve waiting times for patients who need urgent care.

The services, which are currently housed in the Mallings Health building, will be moved to the Community Diagnostic Centre (CDC) in Telford from Monday 13 May.

The relocation will enable part of the Mallings Health building at PRH, which is run by The Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust (SaTH), to be used for the treatment of patients with minor illnesses.

Patients requiring blood tests will continue to have the choice of booking appointments at the CDC, Elizabeth House at Royal Shrewsbury Hospital or Whitchurch Community Hospital.

Some blood test services will continue to be provided at the Mallings Health building. These are referrals from SaTH consultants and GPs as well as paediatrics and warfarin appointments. Appointments for all sites can be booked using the community blood test booking service - www.sath.nhs.uk/bloodtests.

Sara Biffen, Acting Chief Operating Officer, said: “Patients will continue to have a choice of where they have their blood tests. This includes at our new Community Diagnostic Centre which means patients don’t have to visit a busy hospital site for the tests they need.

“Relocating some of our phlebotomy services will enable us to utilise part of the Mallings Health building as a dedicated clinical space for some of our urgent treatment services. This will help us to improve waiting times for our patients.

“There will be no change for patients requiring urgent and emergency care at PRH. They should continue to attend the Emergency Department to be assessed as they do now.”

Visit NHS 111 online or call NHS 111 for medical problems that aren’t life threatening but require immediate help, and you are not sure what to do.

Think Minor Injury Unit (MIU) before A&E. MIUs can provide rapid treatment for non-life threatening injuries such as cuts, burns or sprains and have, on average, much shorter waiting times. There are MIUs in Bridgnorth, Oswestry, Ludlow and Whitchurch.

Further information about blood tests, and the community booking service, is available on the SaTH website - Book a blood test online - SaTH.

Patients who are unable to attend their blood test appointment should use the cancellation link in their booking confirmation email or ring the booking line on 01743 492510 (Monday to Friday – 9am-4pm).

The CDC – the first in Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin - opened in October last year, and is based at Hollinswood House, Stafford Park 1, Telford, TF3 3DD. Free parking is available.