A Phlebotomy Service (blood taking service) runs five days per week within the Wigan Borough on an appointment basis.  It is most locally available at Golborne Clinic, though there are other sites where you can attend if you are unable to obtain a convenient appointment at Golborne Clinic.  If you are asked to go for blood tests, always ensure the Doctor or the Practice Nurse gives you a blood request form for you to take to your Phlebotomy appointment.  To arrange an appointment with a Phlebotomist, at a site which is convenient to you, please contact telephone number 0300 555 4567 (central booking line for the Wigan Borough Phlebotomy Service) or visit www.wwl.nhs.uk/phlebotomy.

It is usual practise for us to ask you to leave it one week before you inquire re any results and, if you do ring the surgery to discuss resultss, we would be grateful if you could do so of an afternoon rather than in the morning (when phones are very busy).

Any samples which are to be sent via the Practice to the laboratory, must be received by the Practice by 10:15, Monday to Friday.

Please note nail clipping (appropriate for testing of fungal infection) is not currently being carried out due to the pressures that Coronavirus has placed upon the Laboratory systems.

Fasting Blood Test

If you are asked to undergo fasting blood test, this will require you to fast from food and drink for 12 hours prior to your test - at the time of booking your Phlebotomy appointment, please point out your test is being carried out on a fasting basis and an early morning appointment will be offered to you if at all possible. 

Glucose Tolerance Test

This test is not used very often these days but, if you have had a test to check the sugar level in your blood and the result comes back marginally raised, this may indicate that you may possibly be moving towards developing diabetes.  The Practice may advise that you undergo glucose tolerance test which can require you to be at the Phlebotomy Clinic for a number of hours - at the time of booking an appointment for such a test, ask for specific instructions as to how long you will be at the clinic and what the procedure for the test will be. 

Blood Test Results

Blood tests are checked by the Doctor and/or Practice Nurse.  If the blood results require follow-up/discussion with you it is usual that one of the Clinicians will contact you to discuss same.  However, you must feel free to contact the surgery to ask for any test results - Reception staff will not be able to discuss such with you when you initially ring but they can arrange a call back to you to advise you of the results and whether or not any further action is required.  Please be aware that not all test results arrive at the same time but all will be checked by a Doctor and/or Practice Nurse and you will be contacted as appropriate

Other Laboratory Tests

Other laboratory tests, such as urine tests, cervical smear tests, certain swabs, nail clippings and such are organised on site at the surgery - the procedure with regards these test results are the same as with blood tests but, again, you should feel free to contact surgery to discuss such.

X-ray/Ultrasound Scan Results

It can take up to two weeks or more currently to receive x-ray and ultrasound results  - if any action needs to be taken we will advise you or you can view them via your SystmOne online tool (please speak to Reception staff if you have not signed up for online services yet.

Additional Advice

Please ensure we have your up-to-date telephone contact details so that we can contact you regarding any urgent test results.

The Practice telephone system proves particularly busy in the morning, therefore, we would ask that you telephone the Practice after 13:00 pm Monday - Friday.