A walk-in service to allow patients to be referred for same day blood tests without an appointment has been launched by NHS Lanarkshire to speed up diagnosis and treatment.

Lanarkshire’s Bloods and Go service is being offered at local NHS community Treatment Rooms  during opening hours.

Bloods and Go was developed in East Kilbride, with many patients able to access blood tests on the same day, particularly outwith peak times.

In Hamilton, the introduction of the service has led to a marked increase in activity, with monthly blood tests rising from an average of 23% from 5,181 to 6,381.

One patient who was sent by their GP said:

“The nurse was calm, reassuring and made the whole experience stress free. The process was efficient and well organised and I received a phone call with my results less than 24 hours later. It couldn’t have been better.”

NHS Lanarkshire’s Bloods and Go team has been making the case to the Scottish government for the approach to be rolled out across Scotland, hosting a briefing for the Chief executive of NHS Scotland, Caroline Lamb.

Dr Mark Russell, Medical Director, said:

“Quick and easy access to blood tests is vital for patient care. It helps people get answers sooner, supports earlier treatment decisions and reduces the anxiety that can come with waiting for results.

“Bloods and Go makes this simpler by offering appointment‑free blood tests in local community Treatment Rooms. Delivered by experienced nursing teams, the service supports clinicians to focus on patient care and follow up, while making the experience easier for patients.”

South Lanarkshire’s Chief Officer for Health and Social Care, Professor Soumen Sengupta, added:

 “Many people tell us that ease of access to services and timely responses about their health make a real difference. Bloods and Go helps by making it simpler to get blood tests done and reducing the time it takes to move from a test to follow up, so people get answers sooner.”

 

For full details on Treatment Room services, including Bloods and Go clinic locations, opening times and contact information, visit the NHS Lanarkshire treatment rooms page.

 

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