Patients across Lanarkshire are benefiting from quicker and easier access to routine blood tests, helping clinicians make more timely treatment decisions and giving people faster reassurance about their health.
Reflecting on a recent visit, one patient said: “I was sent by my GP for blood tests and was able to attend without an appointment through Bloods and Go. 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.”
Delivered through local NHS community Treatment Rooms, Lanarkshire’s Bloods and Go service allows patients whose GP has requested blood tests to attend during opening hours without an appointment, simplifying access and supporting quicker diagnosis and follow‑up as part of everyday care.
The service was recently showcased during a visit to Hunter Health Centre in East Kilbride, where members of the Bloods and Go team met Caroline Lamb, Director General for Health and Social Care and Chief Executive of NHS Scotland; Katharina Kasper, Chair of NHS Lanarkshire; Louise Long, NHS Lanarkshire Chief Executive; and Donald Reid, member of the South Lanarkshire Integration Joint Board.
Bloods and Go was developed in East Kilbride, with many patients able to access blood tests on the same day, particularly outwith peak times.
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.”
Following positive patient feedback and strong staff engagement, Bloods and Go is being expanded across Lanarkshire. In Hamilton, the introduction of the service has led to a marked increase in activity, with monthly blood tests rising from an average of 5,181 to 6,381 – a 23 per cent increase.
Professor Soumen Sengupta, Chief Officer for Health and Social Care, said: “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:
www.nhslanarkshire.scot.nhs.uk/treatment-room-services
