Medical tent set up at FlyDSA Arena as Sheffield Hospitals start drive through blood tests

A ‘drive through’ blood testing unit has been set up at the FlyDSA Arena in Sheffield.
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Laboratory and Phlebotomy teams at Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust have set up a marquee on the Arena car park for patients to have blood tests away from hospitals and GP surgeries in a bid to reduce the spread of coronavirus.

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The new service, which starts at 2pm today, will enable vulnerable patients to drive into the giant marquee to have blood tests in their own cars to avoid the need for them to visit their local surgery or hospital.

The FlyDSA Arena in Sheffield.The FlyDSA Arena in Sheffield.
The FlyDSA Arena in Sheffield.
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Dr David Hughes, Medical Director at Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust said: “A lot of our patients have compromised immune systems which makes them even more susceptible to infections like COVID-19.

“However their medical treatment means they need to have regular blood tests.

“This is particularly an issue for our patients who have cancer or other auto immune conditions. The last thing we want is to bring those patients into a busy waiting area or put them into contact with other people if it is not absolutely necessary.

“The drive through blood testing service means we can continue to deliver this important part of their care without the risk of infection. “Thanks to the support of the FlyDSA Arena, our teams have done an amazing job in developing the drive through blood test service in just a matter of days.

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“In these unprecedented times our staff and partners are using their creativity and expertise to come up with different ways to enable us to continue delivering the care people need wherever it is safe and appropriate to do so.

“It is incredible team work. If the service works well, we hope to increase the number of patients who can use it and offer it to GPs for their patients who need regular blood tests too.”

For patients who cannot use the drive through service, tests will still be carried out at the Royal Hallamshire and Northern General Hospitals but with additional measures in place to limit the risk of transmission of infection.

Patients eligible for the drive through test will be contacted.

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