Please note: We do not notify patients of normal blood results, if your GP has a concern about a result they will contact you to discuss further.

You can look at test results via NHS App. If you are unable to access your results online, please ring 01271 329004 after 2.30pm, as results are not received by the Medical Centre until later in the morning.

Blood test clinics are run every morning by our Healthcare Assistants, who also help with minor operations and ECGs (heart recordings). When a GP, practice Sister or the North Devon District Hospital requests a blood test, a form is produced to tell the Health Care Assistant which samples are required.

We have blood clinics from 7.30am to 5.00pm most days and also offer anti-coagulant appointments throughout the day. Appointments for these need to be booked through Reception on 01271 329004 or you can book online for your blood tests using the NHS App.

If you take warfarin you will need to have regular blood tests to ensure that you are receiving the correct dose.  We offer regular clinics where we can calculate the new dose of warfarin immediately after your blood test.

Please remember to check in for your blood test on arrival at the surgery, as you would for any other appointment.

What are blood tests for?

A blood test is when a sample of blood is taken for testing in a laboratory. Blood tests have a wide range of uses and are one of the most common types of medical test. For example, a blood test can be used to:

• assess your general state of health
• confirm the presence of a bacterial or viral infection
• see how well certain organs, such as the liver and kidneys, are functioning

A blood test usually involves the phlebotomist taking a blood sample from a blood vessel in your arm. and the usual place for a sample is the inside of the elbow or wrist, where the veins are relatively close to the surface. If your GP advises your child requires a blood test they will refer you to the Paediatric Outpatient Department at North Devon District Hospital.

We are often asked by secondary care to undertake blood tests on behalf of secondary care at the medical centre.

This is something we are happy to do as it is often very much easier for the patient and reduces unnecessary travel.

However, we will only undertake these bloods tests under certain conditions.

These are laid out in more detail in the Community Phlebotomy Local Enhanced Service (agreed between local acute Trusts). Please see here for more information.

In brief, there are 2 essential requirements as laid out in this document

1. The patient must take responsibility for making the appointment- we cannot and will not do this on your or their behalf and 
2. The patient must attend with the appropriate 'form' or printed requisition on appropriately formatted paper. This ensures the correct tests are done and avoids the results coming back to us in Primary Care. If we generate the 'form' the result has to come back to us for initial action and forwarding as appropriate. This creates unacceptable workload and clinical risk.