to find it weird that there is another patient in the room during my blood test?

[RevoltingPeasant]

I am not having a massive freak out about this, just found it odd.

I went for blood test with the phlebotomist at my GP's this morning, and when she called me into the room there was another phleb't with another patient sat on a chair. They evidently knew one another as the patient was telling her about her holiday in Tenerife.

I sorted of waited a minute as I thought she might be going to leave but she didn't and I got told to sit down. I am not great with needles and I normally warn HCPs of this but I felt a bit stupid in front of this other woman so I didn't say anything. I turned my face away as I can't really watch and the phlebotomist took blood without saying anything - bit of a shock to have no warning! - and as she did so the other patient was going 'Ooooooh' in this horrified/ sympathetic tone.

I'm sure she was being kind - the patient - but it struck me as kind of inappropriate. I actually felt quite faint and having people making remarks doesn't really help.

On the one hand I guess this is efficient - seeing 2 x patients at the same time, shorter wait. On the other, surely this might be embarrassing for some people? My sister actually faints when she has blood taken and I imagine if I had some condition I might want to mention (e.g. HIV+) it might be quite off-putting.

AIBprecious or what?

[jamdonut]

Apart from a time when I was pregnant ,and fainted, and then they couldn't find a decent vein to take blood from and had to call a doctor to do it, I have never had blood taken in a room on my own,or had curtains round.
What is the problem? Its not like a blood test is an invasive procedure. At any hospital I've had blood taken there is usually a ticket system for general tests, or appointments for fasting blood glucose or warfarin checks etc. If EVERYONE had appointments to be seen individually it would take forever and there would be a waiting list, too. Then people would complain!! Don't forget that phlebotomy is usually open to co-incide with out-patient clinic sessions. Some days there may be only a few tests to be done other days,there may be hundreds. It just depends. It is an unknown quantity.

[atthewelles]

Special There's a difference between 'not liking' needles and being really squeamish or very nervous about them.

[BartletForTeamGB]

No screens in the phlebotomy dept of my local hospital.

[wriggletto]

Whenever I've had bloods done, it's been at the local hospital, where there are six or seven chairs next to each other, no curtains, a deli ticketing system, and usually a ninety minute wait. Once you're in, it's all pretty brisk, which is actually good.

[SirBoobAlot]

The hospital do this, though my GPs don't. It surprised me a little the first time, but also made me pull up my big girl pants I am shit with needles.

[specialsubject]

when I give blood the test is done behind a curtain, but the drain is inserted in the open hall. What's the issue as long as it isn't inserted in your backside?

no-one in their right mind likes needles.

[theodorakisses]

wtf

[theodorakisses]

There was a curtain....obviously

[ivykaty44]

wtf

[theodorakisses]

Oh a sceptismo face, the lovely supportive face of MN. Enjoy your superiority, long may it last.

[BigBoobiedBertha]

I wouldn't mind the 2 people in one room thing but I was told by a nurse that if you are prone to feeling faint when having blood taken it is best to keep talking - it is more difficult to hyperventilate then - so I think the not talking to you was more of an issue. The nurse who gave me that tip is absolutely right it does help, even if you are making a fool of yourself by telling the nurse that you have to keep talking! In fact, it worked so well for me that I now don't mind having blood taken.

Best blood test I ever had (if you can have a 'good' blood test) the phlebotomist didn't warn me and I didn't even realise she had taken the blood until she told me I could go (I don't look). Of course if the first thing you know about it is a jab in the arm then not so good.

[ivykaty44]

theodora - getting your kegs of as oppossed to rolling up your sleeve I would think is a little different

[Sparklingbrook]

They do it at our hospital, you have to take a ticket like at the deli but there's 2 or 3 in there, no curtains. Not at the GPs though. Then again when you give blood you are all lying on the beds together very close.

[theodorakisses]

The first year I was in Qatar, I had a smear test with the next patient sitting in the consultants chair. he asked me to get ready, then started his next consult, halfway through popped in and did the pap on me and commented on my vagina!. YANBU, it is weird and leaves you feeling a bit violated.

[Birdsgottafly]

It is the norm in my region for hospitals and clinics to have more than one person in a room at a time.

The issus seems to be around you not liking needles, you should really have that written on your notes and then you would be seen individually.

The other woman could of been sitting because she also feels faint when having bloods done. I have very low blood pressure and i am always told to wait before standing up.

[mynewpassion]

yabu. no medical information is being discuss just inane conversation.

[MrsMelons]

Sounds like you were a bit close together, usually it would be a bit like 'one in each corner' so still some privacy

[MrsMelons]

Not odd at all IME. Usually we go into a room with 3 or 4 people doing blood tests.

[EmpressMaud]

I don't think you are being unreasonable. I don't think I'd like it, and I really don't mind needles or blood tests at all. The last two I had were at private hospitals, and definitely in a private, individual, room setting. But casting my mind back has been similar in NHS too.
I can't put my finger on quite why I don't like the idea of this and find it an unpleasant prospect. The lack of privacy? I'm not sure.

[Panzee]

In our area you only get blood tests at the hospital. The room has four stations. All in together, 'twas ever thus.

I have never been in when people comment on each other though! That lady was odd.

[CPtart]

Happens all the time at our clinic too although a curtain is used as an attempt at privacy. We can have 40-50 patients coming for blood tests in 90 minutes, there is no way one phlebotomist can do that on her own, it is literally a production line.....it has to be.

[Sabriel]

This is normal procedure at my GPs and at the hospital where I have to have blood taken regularly. I am really needle phobic but the presence of other patients doesn't bother me. Sometimes I realise I'm staring at them

[schoolgovernor]

When I went for my last flu jab they had about 5 patients lining up waiting in the consulting room as someone was jabbed. One lady turned and walked out muttering about having to take her blouse off because of her sleeves.

[sashh]

normal here too.

[BrittaPerry]

I'd be scared, because I am terrified of needles as it is (we are alking having to spend extra time in hospital and accidentally hitting a dentist type incidents) and I would worry that the other patient would somehow fall over or sneeze or something and cause me to get stabbed in the neck. It is enough of a worry that me or the nurse might do it!