Problems over getting access to blood tests in Newham have eased with the opening of a new blood test clinic in Stratford’s Westfield Shopping Centre.

The new clinic was opened by the local NHS on 12 July following protests and complaints from patients highlighted by Newham Voices earlier this year.

The East London NHS Foundation Trust acted after public governors at the trust voiced concerns over the switch from walk-in blood testing to an online appointments-only system.

This took many people by surprise and led to problems for vulnerable groups, particularly people in their 60s and 70s, who may find online services difficult to access.

The new interim clinic will be the fifth blood test clinic in Newham and will provide an appointment-only service from 8am-8pm which will increase the availability of blood test slots in the Borough and will reduce waiting times.

Service Manager Jacqui Birkett said: “ We are pleased to be able to offer a fifth option to local people. It means we have more blood test appointments available. Being based in the Westfield Shopping Centre means it is quite central and people can combine having their blood test with other activities.”

Newham carries out around 300,000 blood tests each year and the online booking service was first introduced last year during the pandemic when it became unsafe to maintain waiting rooms at existing clinics because of social-distancing rules.

Many patients who were unwell and frail, found themselves queuing up outside health centres, sometimes in poor weather.

NHS managers hoped that the new Swiftqueue system, which is widely used in other boroughs in north east London, would make it easy for people to book in advance, but some people were unaware of the change and many were shocked to find that they had to wait more than two weeks for an appointment under the new arrangement.

There are a number of slots reserved each day for urgent blood test requests, which have to be authorised by GPs but the old system of walk-in which meant people could get routine tests within a day or two of seeing their doctor has now been finally abandoned.

For people who are not able or confident to use the online booking system, a phone line is available, but in future the main way to book a blood test is online but with waiting times reduced thanks to the new clinic.

No news is bad news

Independent news outlets like ours – reporting for the community without rich backers – are under threat of closure, turning British towns into news deserts.

The audiences they serve know less, understand less, and can do less.

If our coverage has helped you understand our community a little bit better, please consider supporting us with a monthly, yearly or one-off donation.

Choose the news. Don’t lose the news.

Monthly direct debit

Annual direct debit

£5 per month supporters get a digital copy of each month’s paper before anyone else, £10 per month supporters get a digital copy of each month’s paper before anyone else and a print copy posted to them each month. £50 annual supporters get a digital copy of each month's paper before anyone else.