Team Lopez - Constituents will be aware that Julia has raised concerns regarding the provision of phlebotomy services in Havering. Today, the Managing Director of Barking and Dagenham, Havering and Redbridge Clinical Commissioning Groups, Ceri Jacobs, has provided the following update on phlebotomy services:
Background
As you will know, local people are currently experiencing lengthy waits for non- urgent blood tests.
Following the declaration of an SI (Serious Incident) in October, the Oversight Committee meeting takes place every Friday, jointly chaired by a CCG Governing Body Lay Member and the CCGs’ Managing Director.
On the 30th November BHR CCGs will attend the Redbridge Health and Wellbeing Board to provide an update.
We continue to share weekly progress with you as we continue to work with our local partners to address the situation.
Increasing capacity levels
- The following “super clinics” will open across BHR:
- Barley Court, Goodmayes - 4 chairs open Monday - Sunday from 23/11 – (this is full capacity). From Saturday 28/11, 9 weekend chairs will open.
- Dagenham Library – 1 chair open weekdays from 30/11 – this has been delayed by one week (cited as 23/11/20 last week).
- We are pleased to report that all weekend clinics that ran last weekend were successful in their delivery of appointments and all “super clinic” appointments are fully booked for the coming weekend.
- Urgent capacity – all urgent blood tests are being responded to within 24 hours for the next working day appointment
- The move from 6 to 9 bleeds per hour was implemented on the 10/11 (originally cited as the end of November) and to date this change has delivered an additional 2,878 bleeds.
- In total, 2,544 additional bleeds have been delivered across all sites this week, 315 more than planned, which means over the last two weeks 4,458 additional appointments have been provided
- We have now increased capacity across all sites. Texts are being sent to individuals with an appointment advising them they can bring their appointment forward should they wish. NELFT are proactively contacting patients who do not reschedule to ask if they would like to bring their appointment forward.
Primary care provision
Blood tests delivered by primary care clinicians during October, as of 17th November is 4,694, an increase of 1,253 bleeds across practices that are signed up to the Local Incentive Scheme (LIS). This is more than double the number delivered in September.
Waiting times
Due to a data issue, we are unable to provide the usual level of detail in terms of waiting times. However we are able to let you know that as of 16/11, the longest waiting time across BHR is 5 weeks, a reduction of 7 weeks based on figures shared last week.
The current DNA (did not attend) is between 11% and 15%, including weekend “super clinics”.
NELFT currently send out an appointment confirmation, an appointment reminder the day before and a text message four hours in advance of appointments.
In order to support our efforts, please urge people to attend their appointments or cancel/reschedule if they are unable to attend.