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BLOOD TEST POLICY

Phlebotomy Clinics

Due to ongoing pressures on primary care, it is with regret that, as a surgery, we are not able to offer phlebotomy services to all of our patients

Current criteria for blood test appointments at our practice:


• Patients aged over 70
• Patients with long-term conditions, including:
– Diabetes
– Heart failure
– Cancer
– Learning disabilities

The reason for this is limited capacity and multiple instances of non-attendance for appointments.

Children Under 12

Please note that we are unable to perform blood tests for children under the age of 12 at the practice.

This is because we do not have the specialist paediatric equipment or clinically trained paediatric phlebotomy staff required to safely take blood from younger children.
For this reason, all children under 12 will need to attend Lister Hospital or Bedford Hospital for their blood tests, where the teams and facilities are specifically set up to provide this service.

Hospital Blood Test Appointments


If you do not meet the above criteria, you will be asked to attend Bedford Hospital or Lister Hospital for your blood tests.


A request form will be raised by the surgery for you to collect before attending.

Please note that all patients referred by GP surgeries must now have an appointment before attending either hospital. Walk-in appointments are no longer accepted, including on Saturdays.

Appointments must be booked directly via the relevant hospital’s website:
Bedford Hospital
Lister Hospital

Request forms must be taken with you to your appointment.

Blood tests requested by hospital teams should be carried out at the hospital requesting them.

Please click here for further information regarding test results

Page published: 3 February 2025
Last updated: 3 December 2025