Introducing a booking system for blood tests
Posted: 27 November 2023
West Hertfordshire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust is introducing a booking system for blood tests and phasing out walk-in appointments.
Patients will be able to register on the system from 1 December and online appointments will commence from 14 December.
Some walk-in slots will always be available for those who need urgent tests and staff will provide flexibility for patients who haven’t been able to book in advance.
There is a dedicated phone line for those without digital access. The phone line will open from 1 December and trust staff will help patients book appointments from 14 December.
Martin Keble, divisional director, clinical support services, said: “Our blood clinic teams see an average of 27,000 patients a month which can lead to overcrowding in our clinics. By introducing a booking system for blood tests, we can spread appointments evenly throughout the day.
“We recognise that walk-in clinics have suited some patients, however, we are confident that booked appointments will provide a better experience and reduce waiting times in clinics for all patients.”
Contact information
Register with Swiftqueue from 1 December to book an online appointment from 14 December.
A telephone helpline opens from Thursday 7 December. It will operate from Tuesday to Friday, 9am to 1pm. Call 01727 897376
Ends
- For media enquiries, please contact the communications team on: 01923 436280 or email: westherts.communications@nhs.net. For out of hours media enquiries please call the Watford General Hospital switchboard on 01923 244366 and ask for the on call communications manager.
- West Hertfordshire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust serves people from across Hertfordshire, north London and further afield. It operates from three hospitals; Watford General, St Albans City and Hemel Hempstead. The trust has a catchment area of over 500,000 people and is one of the largest employers locally, with around 5,000 staff and volunteers.
- For more information about our hospitals, visit www.westhertshospitals.nhs.uk. You can also join our followers on Twitter (twitter.com/westhertsNHS) and find us on Facebook (facebook.com/westhertsNHS).