New online booking system for blood tests introduced in Sefton
Sefton residents will be able to arrange blood tests online with the launch of a new appointment system aimed to ease the demand on existing services following the Covid-19 pandemic.
During the height of the pandemic, the service was suspended and revised to comply with social distancing measures and, after making a phased return to operation, North West Boroughs Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust are now addressing the backlog of patients needing tests and issues with callers getting through to book appointments.
Sara Harrison, Head of Operations for North West Boroughs in Sefton, said: “We’d like to apologise to anyone who has struggled to get through for a blood test in recent weeks and we believe the introduction of this new online booking system will provide patients with additional options to book their appointment.
“We experienced unprecedented challenges within the service during the Covid-19 pandemic and our colleagues in Mersey Care, who manage the patient booking line, have taken steps to address that by recruiting additional call handlers and clinical staff. We’ve re-opened various sites across Sefton and have plans to open more sites over the coming weeks. Sefton patients also have the option to attend a Drive Thru Phlebotomy Clinic in Liverpool if they are able to travel.
“The NHS has worked hard to provide essential services for patients during this period and continues to restore services when they can be done safely for staff and patients. This includes introducing different ways of providing our services and we believe this new online booking system will offer patients additional options to book their blood test appointment.”
Once referred for a blood test, patients can still book an appointment through Mersey Care’s Central Management Office, which is open 8.00am until 4.00pm from Monday to Friday on 0151 295 3400 option 4.
The new patient online booking system is live from 1 September 2020 that should provide flexibility, patient choice with time slots and access to different clinic sites. For the patient booking line please access the link www.merseycare.nhs.uk/mybloodtest
If you are no longer able to come to your booked appointment, please access your booking confirmation where you will be able to cancel your appointment and rearrange another more convenient time. This will allow us to offer your original appointment to another patient.
As part of the phased reopening of services, blood tests are available for Sefton booked appointments at the following clinics:
| Bootle Health Centre | Park Street
Bootle L20 3DF
|
Monday to Friday
08.30 – 12.30 / 13.30 – 15.30 |
| Maghull Health Centre | Westway
Maghull L31 0DJ |
Monday to Friday
08.30 – 12.30 / 13.30 – 15.30
|
| Prince Street Clinic | Prince Street
Waterloo L22 5PB |
Monday to Friday
08.30 – 12.30 / 13.30 – 15.30
|
| Sefton Road Clinic | 67 Sefton Road
Litherland L21 9HE |
Monday to Friday
08.30 – 12.30 / 13.30 – 15.30 |
In addition to the above clinic times, GPs are also able to make additional patient appointments Monday to Friday for urgent blood requests that they require within 24 hours. Only your GP Surgery can access these urgent slots so please speak to them if you think you need a more urgent appointment.
You can find out more about this service at: www.nwbh.nhs.uk/sefton-phlebotomy
can not get a blood test system needs refining to many options and not easy to use
I would like to book appointment for Sefton road clinic for my blood test
Appointments for a blood test can be made for any South Sefton Clinic including Sefton Road, on-line at http://www.merseycare.nhs.uk/mybloodtest or by telephoning the central booking line on 0151 285 4548. Thank you for contacting us. Best wishes, Healthwatch Sefton.
Blood test required please
Appointments for a blood test can be made for any South Sefton Clinic including Sefton Road, on-line at http://www.merseycare.nhs.uk/mybloodtest or by telephoning the central booking line on 0151 285 4548.
Appointments for Southport and Formby can be made by telephoning individual clinics: Monday – Friday – 08:30 – 17:00 (Closed Saturday and Sunday)
Ainsdale Centre for Health and Wellbeing, Sandbrook Road, Ainsdale, PR8 3RJ
Tel: 01704 387 230
Churchtown Clinic, 137A Cambridge Road, Southport, PR9 7LT
Tel: 01704 387 200
Formby Clinic – Philips Lane, Formby, L37 4AY
Tel: 01704 387 210
Southport Health & Wellbeing Centre, Hoghton Street, Southport, PR9 0PG
Tel: 01704 387 220 (Centre operates 09:00 – 19:45 on Tuesdays and Thursdays)
Thank you for contacting us.
Best wishes, Healthwatch Sefton.
I wish to book a blood test at Westway Maghull asap re letter from Westway medical centre Maghull dated 4th October 2021. I’m finding it impossible to get through by phone and find your on line booking near impossible. Thank you.
Due to a national shortage of some blood tubes and an instruction from NHS England, the Trust cancelled all blood tests between 1 September 2021 and 17 September 2021.
Mersey Care have reported that the supply situation is improving, and is no longer as constrained as it has been in recent weeks. Routine testing has been resumed and appointments for individual clinics can be made on-line via this link https://www.merseycare.nhs.uk/mybloodtest
On the system this morning, the first appointments available at Westway are in early November. You select the site you want, the time slot and then enter your name, address and date of birth. You can book into another site if they have earlier appointments.
You can also use the telephone booking line, but there is high demand following the blood tube shortage, and they are asking those that can, to book on-line and ease the pressure for those that do not have on-line access.
The booking telephone no. is 0151 285 4548.
Thank you for contacting us.
Best wishes, Healthwatch Sefton.
I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE APPOINTMENT AT MAGHULL HEALTH CENTRE.
You can book an appointment on-line via this link: The first available appointments to book today are on 20 Oct. at Maghull Health Centre. You can also book on the telephone line, 0151 285 4548, choose option 4 blood test. This is an extremely busy line and those who are able to, are encouraged to book on-line to help reduce the long waits on the telephone service.
If you have the time, would you be willing to share your feedback about booking a blood test on our online feedback centre? This way your feedback can be anonymously shared with the provider of the service and also other members of the public will be able to read about your experience too.
https://www.healthwatchsefton.co.uk/
Best wishes,
Healthwatch Sefton.
I am trying to make an appointment for my wife.
However one of your questions requires a email address which she has not got.
I put in this fact but it was not recognised.
I then left it blank and again it was not recognised.
Thanks for your comment on Mersey Care’s Phlebotomy on-line booking service. Unfortunately, it looks like the email field on the electronic form must be completed, so you may need to telephone for an appointment instead. You can ring 0151 285 4548 to book an appointment.
Best wishes,
Healthwatch Sefton
i have tried to ring to book a blood test .it said go on line to book it.how?????????
You can book a blood test by telephoning 0151 285 4548. There is a short message about how to book online, and then you will be placed in a queue to speak to a member of staff and book your appointment.
Best wishes,
Healthwatch Sefton.