Phlebotomy clinic during Covid-19 (FOI)

Phlebotomy Clinic

Has the Phlebotomy Clinic closed?
If so, what are the alternative arrangements for Patients?
If the Phlebotomy Clinic remains open why are patients being told to get their routine blood tests done at their own expense by GPs?

If this is in support of the introduction of the JCM, DG HCS said in her Parish presentations last autumn that services outsourced from the General Hospital to GPs would be accompanied by the cost of the treatment in the General Hospital.

Therefore, why are Phlebotomy patients now facing a blood test charge from their GPs?

When will the details of the proposed changes delivered by the JCM be published in order that both patients and GPs can understand them?

When will the savings and costs of these changes be published?

The Phlebotomy department is not closed. During COVID outpatient services reduced including phlebotomy, seeing only patients needing urgent bloods. As a result, routine blood tests where referred back to GPs. The phlebotomy department has now re-opened for outpatients. 

The JCM is due for debate in the States in either late October or early November, but that will not provide the operational level of information in respect of phlebotomy, only agreement of the high level model. Implementation of the JCM will only happen after approval of funding (if approved) from January 2021, based on a phased implementation. Implementation plans will be communicated during 2021.