Blood Tests at the Tynemouth Road Community Paediatric Clinic

Patient Information Leaflet

• At Tynemouth Road Medical Centre, the Community Paediatric Blood Clinic will see children up to the age of 16 for regular and genetic blood tests.
• Bloods are taken by our senior Health Care Assistant (HCA) and are by appointment only.
• Sometimes children may need to have their tests taken at the children's outpatient's department at the Whittington Hospital.
• Your consultant Paediatrician will let you know if this applies to your child.

How is the Blood Test Taken?

• Our HCA will meet you and your child in the waiting area and take you to the clinic room, where your child will sit in the blue chair.
• They will explain the process and will not do anything to your child, without telling them.
• They will look at your child's arm, identify a good vein to take the blood from, and wipe the area clean. They will place a band around your child's arm to help with the blood flow.
• They will then put the needle into your child's arm, and they may feel a scratch. The blood will then flow into a small tube.
• The band and the needle are then removed. The HCA will tape some cotton wool onto your child's arm to help stop any bleeding, and the appointment is then finished.

Will it hurt?

• Your child may feel a slight scratch, but it should not hurt.
• They may get a small bruise on their arm, but this will clear up soon.

How do I make the appointment?

• After the appointment with the Consultant Paediatrician, you can visit the reception area on the ground floor of Tynemouth Road Health Centre.
• One of the team will take your child's details and book you into the next available clinic.

Rescheduling your appointment

• A reminder text message will be sent to you two days before the appointment.
• You can call us on 0203 224 4312 (Monday - Friday between 09:00-17:00) to reschedule anytime (with your child's details).
• Or email us: whh-tr.compaed-har@nhs.net

How will I receive the blood results?

• Regular results will be posted to you, and you should receive them within 10 days.
• Your child's GP will also be notified of the results.
• Genetic test results can take longer. Your Consultant Paediatrician will tell you when to expect the results when you book the test.