Princess Royal University Hospital to close blood test unit

The Farnborough hospital will turn the space into a discharge lounge to help staff during the winter.

Bromley Clinical Commissioning Group has assured patients there will “not be a reduction in services” and phlebotomy services will be transferred to “community settings”.

The blood testing clinic is expected to shut by the end of September.

A spokesman said: “The CCG is in the process of finalising plans to relocate phlebotomy services from the PRUH to community settings.

“King’s (College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust) will be transforming the space currently used for phlebotomy into a discharge lounge which will improve patient flow in and out of the PRUH and help with managing winter pressures.

“The CCG plans to provide a phlebotomy service located close to the PRUH and to introduce additional services in key areas of high population. There will not be a reduction in the service.

“Outpatients and children under 13 will continue to be seen at the PRUH and housebound patients will continue to have their blood taken where they live.

“The objective of these plans is to enable the majority of patients to use phlebotomy services that are closer to home, at convenient times, and with reduced waiting times.

“The CCG is working toward new services being ready in October and we will be in a position to provide further details very soon.”

Kath Lucken, 67, lives near the hospital and believes the closure of the blood unit is a worrying sign.

“Who is going to give blood now?” she said.

“Is it going to be community nurses? We can go to Orpington for blood tests but it is always busy.

“Then there’s the Beckenham Beacon which has a tiny car park and you have to park a couple of streets away.

“It is about cutting costs and they need to be honest and say they need to save money. People go to the hospital from such a long way away like Keston.

“I feel sorry for the poor staff. I don’t know how the hospital is coping.”