Blood tests for children

[Contraryish]

My daughter had to have a blood test last week. Despite being referred to A&E for it, it took four hours from start to finish, not including the 40 minutes (and the rest!) they wanted us to wait around for the results. Added to this is the fact the hospital is a 45 minute drive away and parking is a complete nightmare and it ended up costing us most of a day.

She'll need another blood test in another couple of months and I'm reluctant to put her through that again. Is there any other way that I can get a blood test for a seven year-old? They have a resident phlebotomist at our local surgery but it seems they are reluctant to take bloods from children. She is well-behaved and otherwise healthy.

Is there any way of going private just for a blood test, or can I ask that it be done at our local practice or hospital? Or is a major paediatric unit the only way?

They have a specialist phlebotomist at our local hospital so perhaps try that. We live in a big city though and the hospital has paediatric wards and a special care baby unit. She was brilliant though, almost totally painless, we had to take DD when she was 7 and the phlebotomist remembered taking her blood as a baby (quite unusual name).

Yes ask to go to the phlebotomist for the next one . They are really skilled and it'll be really quick.

OK, thanks, both. I'll see if we can get it done at the practice!

Our GP does it, but not many do, I believe. They need special training.
He does it before surgery begins so they can't work themselves up all day.