Morriston Hospital's phlebotomy service has new home
Morriston Hospital’s outpatient phlebotomy service has been given a new permanent home.
Previously located on the right hand side, as you walked through the main doors, it can now be found to the left, opposite WH Smiths.
The service provides routine blood test appointments and same day (urgent) blood tests when required - these must be booked by the GP, hospital consultant or healthcare provider.
It is hoped the relocation, carried out under Swansea Bay’s Capital Planning programme, will help facilitate a speedier service.
Laura McKelvie-Seth, Pre-Analytical Service Manager, said: “Our outpatient phlebotomy in Morriston Hospital has moved to a new permanent location, at the front of the hospital, opposite WH Smiths.
“Phlebotomy was originally based at the front of the hospital, on the right hand side in the ‘new’ outpatients area, when it was opened.
“During Covid, when the front of the hospital was changed to support clinical need, phlebotomy was move into temporary areas around the outpatient department but it included sharing the discharge lounge with the surgical team, and, more recently, the rooms at the front of wards K and L.
“Having a permanent, purpose-built facility is a huge benefit to staff and also to patients who have not always known where the department would be during the multiple moves.
“The other bonus is it is at the front of the hospital. As phlebotomy appointments are only 5 minutes long, and it makes it more convenient for people to attend.”
Mark Parsons, Swansea Bay’s Assistant Director of Capital Planning, said: “We are delighted to be able to provide the phlebotomy service with a new home, and keep it onsite, as part of our post-Covid redevelopment of the atrium area of Morriston Hospital.
“The work has was made possible thanks to the financial support of Welsh Government.”
Swansea Bay phlebotomist, Sheena Oldham welcomed the move.
She said: “As a service we’ve been pushed around from pillar to post over the past few years with Covid meaning the health board had to put other people in the places we have been.
“But now we have a lovely new home.
You come in through the main entrance and take a left down towards WH Smith, and we are on the left hand side.”
Katy Stableford, Assistant Divisional Manager for Clinical Support Services, Pathology, in Morriston Hospital, thanked the public for their patience.
She said: “Our service users have been very patient since the pandemic and our staff have been excellent at moving and adapting to different spaces on the hospital site, while we waited for the redevelopment of the space near the main entrance of Morriston Hospital.
“It is lovely to be in our new permanent home, so much more convenient for the users of the service to be able to have a blood test closer to the main entrance and a boost for our staff.”
The move follows the development of new community phlebotomy clinics in Gorseinon, Port Talbot Resource Centre and Central Clinic in 2022/23 – with more to follow.
Katy said: “We are continuing to develop our services across Health Board sites and will be relocating phlebotomy at Singleton Hospital closer to the main entrance and outpatient department in the near future.
“As with all developments in the health board this has been a team effort and we would like to thank our colleagues in capital planning and estates for their continued support.”
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