Updates
Update, 4 April
Published: 04 April 2020
Using the offsite phlebotomy resources
The offsite phlebotomy locations at New Street Station and Birmingham Dental Hospital are up and running and we have had a number of patients turn up without an appointment, meaning the teams have no background on who these patients are or why bloods have been requested.
Please note colleagues who are referring patients to these locations must book patients into the service using the below process.
If a patient does require a blood test please request this via PICS or ICE. You can download a quick reference guide from the outpatient video clinic toolkit page.
Please note that currently only routine samples can be taken, ones requiring putting on ICE or delivery to labs within the hour cannot be accommodated at present due to limited collection runs.
Tell the patient that the booking centre will contact them via telephone within two working days to arrange an appointment. They should not visit the phlebotomy sites until they have received confirmation of an appointment.
When you ask your patient to have a blood test offsite you need to email:
Email: offsitephlebotomy@uhb.nhs.uk
This is an interim solution until the enhanced e-outcome form is available to use. Copy and paste the text below and email the Booking Centre:
- Subject: Patient ID (number and patient initials) – for example – G123456 TP
- Body: Patient to be telephoned to agree an offsite blood test appointment. Details on PICS of required bloods
To ensure patient requests are not overlooked you should add a patient label onto an A4 sheet with your Name/Clinic/Date and give this to your clinic nurse at the end of your clinic – this will be scanned and sent to the Booking Centre team.
Complete your follow-up requirements for the patient's next review on the e-outcome form as usual.
The Booking Centre will then contact the patient and offer a phlebotomy appointment at a location of their choice. The test results will be available in the usual way.
The team conducting blood tests need to record an outcome of the blood test at the end of the consultation. For HGS patients, this should be recorded on the paper outcome form and the form should be returned to the reception at the end of the clinic. For QEHB patients, the outcome of the blood test should be recorded in PICS.
Paper submissions for Friends and Family Test suspended
Paper-based submissions for the Friends and Family Test (FFT) are now suspended. Any method of collecting FFT that increases the risk of the transmission of COVID-19 (i.e. paper/tablet) should not be undertaken at this time.
Patients may still want to give feedback about their experience and they can contact PALS to do this:
Tel: 0121 424 0808
Email: PALS@uhb.nhs.uk
Patients can also be directed to NHS.uk or Care Opinion where feedback reviews can be posted online; they can also leave feedback with the CQC or contact Healthwatch.
Portraying a professional image
Staff are advised to ensure they are aware of the Trust’s Dress Code and Uniform Standards. Whilst we are experiencing unprecedented demand on our services, the Trust has an agreed standard of dress that ensures we are taking the appropriate infection prevention and control measures and actively contributes to our public image.
It is just as important that these standards are adhered to at this time in order to give confidence to those using our services.
Key points include:
- Uniforms are only to be worn for official duties inside or outside the hospital premises
- Ideally, clinical staff must change into and out of their uniform at work and should avoid travelling to and from work in uniform
- Staff in blue theatre scrubs/clogs must never enter education/library facilities, restaurants, shopping or faith centre areas within the Trust
The full dress code and uniform standards can be viewed on the intranet.