"Blood tests"

Waited ages for my number in the queue for blood tests.

People were not happy about waiting for so long.

I assumed there were again just 2 staff as they were working at a snail's pace (as per usual).

When it was my turn, I went into the room and was surprised to see 4 staff (so why were they working so slow?).

The guy taking my blood seemed to be on a power trip. He told me not to again accept 'labels' from the hospital doctor (which is what the doctor had given me, to give to the staff at the blood tests clinic, which stated what the blood tests were for and my details).

Privately I thought who do they think they are? They are not at a senior level, to instruct me to refuse a label that the doctor had printed out.

I have attended a few blood tests at this hospital before, and no one has ever made an objection about the labels before.

Interestingly enough, they did not inform me what alternative I should request from the doctor, for the next time.

Then they went away, leaving me anxious because by thenI had already waited so long, I was already late for another health appointment.

I asked their colleague to take my bloods instead. They refused, and said the other staff had gone to print the form for me (or whatever - I don't actually know what they were talking about).

I put back on my jacket and got ready to leave, when the staff member returned. I duly informed them that I was very late for my other appointment so please could they take my blood test right away.

They refused, claiming that they were trying to print out another label form, but it wouldn't print out. By then, I was panicking about my other appointment (which I would have been fined for, if I had got there too late). They then said they would not be taking my blood that day.

I was upset to hear this, but they did not care that I had waited so long, only to be told that I would not be getting a blood test that day. I am physically disabled, with other health problems, and it took a lot of effort to get there that day.

I was disgusted with the way they behaved in such an over-zealous way.

And I think the staff at the blood tests should spend less time gossiping and quickly get on with taking the blood tests. Making people wait for so long, especially when they are not well, is a total disgrace.

Whipps Cross need to set up a Patient Representative Group, to give power to the patients (and not simply signpost them to PALS)...!