JOYCE RAISES CONCERNS ABOUT BLOOD-TAKING SERVICES IN LLANELLI

ONLY 60 per cent of GP surgeries in the Llanelli area are carrying out routine blood-taking services despite local health board guidelines, it has been revealed.

Joyce Watson, Assembly Member for Mid and West Wales called for an investigation into blood-taking or phlebotomy services after constituent Richard Christopher alerted her to the issue.
Mr Christopher was forced to attend Prince Philip Hospital for a routine blood test because his practice Adfer Medical Group in Thomas Street, Llanelli does not carry out the service. He waited for two hours at the hospital.

At the moment, it is up to individual GP practices on where to carry out blood taking services but Carmarthenshire Local Health Board encourages doctors to use their own resources as part of the Treatment Room Local Enhanced Service. This service means that doctors are remunerated for doing additional services like phlebotomy.

Joyce contacted the board and called for them to look into this situation. Health managers have since carried out a survey which shows that around 40 per cent of Llanelli surgeries do not offer the service. In contrast, other areas of Carmarthenshire provide phlebotomy services within all GP practices. The board has also said that these results will be discussed at a meeting with the Hywel Dda Trust which runs Prince Philip Hospital as well as at a meeting for the town's GP practice managers.

Joyce said: "Sending patients to hospitals for blood tests is inefficient and puts more pressure on the hospital. I have been assured by the board that they are committed to solving this problem."

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