Changes to Isle of Wight walk-in blood testing service

Instead most patients will be able to have these tests at their local GP surgery. This means a substantial improvement for patients who will no longer have to travel to the hospital and wait in a queue to have a simple blood test.

Since the start of the lockdown, the blood test service has been reduced to urgent requests only. Blood tests at the Ryde Health and Wellbeing Centre that were suspended temporarily have also now closed.

While the NHS Trust are beginning their recovery and restoration programmes it is still very important to reduce the need for as many people as possible visiting the hospital.

They are also keen to continue many of the positive new ways of working established during the COVID-19 outbreak. and are very pleased to be able to announce that most patients can have their bloods taken at their local surgery.

This change offers a number of benefits for patients:

Patients will be given an appointment which means waiting times will be reduced Blood tests taking place in a GP practice means they are delivered in an out-of-hospital setting, closer to patients’ home and therefore travel time is reduced 15-minute appointments will allow for cleaning time in-between, keeping it safe for patients Patients can book an appointments through their practice

There will be some exemptions where GPs still need to refer patients to a walk-in service, therefore a service will be open 1pm to 4pm Monday to Friday.

To find out more about these changes, please read the following Q&A:

• Blood Tests Q&A