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?

[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.

[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.

[BartletForTeamGB]

No screens in the phlebotomy dept of my local hospital.

[atthewelles]

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

[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.