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?

[RevoltingPeasant]

Yeah the chairs were right next to each other like at a hairdresser's and the other patient could deffo see, as she was commenting when the needle went it. It doesn't bother me at a hospital where there are screens around.

[DoodlesNoodles]

YABU. I don't mind this at all, it speeds things up and helps distract me from the blood test. I would mind if they were doing a smear test though

I used to live in South Africa and at our local private clinic they never made any secret as to who was there for an HIV test. I think it was partly to do with trying to de-stigmatise HIV testing. I thought that was interesting.

[gobbin]

This is quite normal in a large surgery and esp in a hospital setting. When I had iron infusions there were three of us in a row in the same room, close enough for chairs to be touching, all getting hooked up for different things. Some read, one guy worked, every other person I sat with had a natter.

[CrazyOldCatLady]

That's the way it is in my local hospital, it's a small room with desks for 4 phlebotomists and no curtains, so the patients are all very close together. No-one has seemed bothered by it on any of my (many) visits. It does keep waiting times shorter, which is great!

[Ariel24]

They do this at my GP surgery too, I haven't been registered there that long as only moved to area a year ago so wasn't aware of it. When I went to have blood test during pregnancy it really surprised me when I walked in the room to see other patients having blood tests being done. I don't have a problem with it as such, I just think they should warn you beforehand! I was having a difficult time when I was pregnant and I struggle with anything medical so asked to have test on my own in separate room, they were happy to do that for me.

[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!

[sashh]

normal here too.

[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.

[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

[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.

[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.

[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.

[MrsMelons]

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

[MrsMelons]

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

[mynewpassion]

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

[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.

[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.

[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.

[ivykaty44]

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

[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.

[theodorakisses]

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

[ivykaty44]

wtf

[theodorakisses]

There was a curtain....obviously

[theodorakisses]

wtf

[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.