24 November 2020
The Coventry & Warwickshire health and care system has today implemented the new national NHS 111 system for accessing urgent and emergency care.
It will help us cope with winter pressures and keep patients and staff safe whilst Covid-19 remains in circulation.
How does it work?
Rather than attending hospital Emergency Departments unannounced, the public are strongly encouraged to contact 111 if they have an urgent – but not serious or life-threatening – medical need.
They will be given a time slot at their nearest hospital Emergency Department or, if it is more appropriate to their need, they will be redirected to a range of other services such as ambulatory care, their local GP, dentist, urgent treatment centre, or pharmacy. This will apply both to Coventry & Warwickshire residents as well as anyone visiting the area.
These pre-booked time slots will help manage the volume of people in Emergency Department waiting rooms and minimise Covid-19 infection risks.
People arriving at Emergency Departments without an allocated time slot may experience longer waits, unless they need immediate treatment.
Why the change?
The new NHS 111 system is designed to:
Reduce the risk of Covid-19 transmission
Protect Emergency Departments for those who need urgent care
Signpost and support the public so they receive the right care in the right place at the right time.
What if it’s serious or life-threatening?
The 999 service is not changing.
People with serious or life-threatening illnesses or injuries are advised to continue to dial 999 as before.
Important: No-one attending Emergency Departments unannounced will be turned away without some form of treatment, advice or redirection to an alternative NHS service.
Please help us implement these important new changes as smoothly as possible by explaining them to your friends and families – and by encouraging them to watch out for the launch of a public information campaign coming soon.
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IMPORTANT INFORMATION ON BLOOD TESTING DUE TO COVID-19
If you are experiencing symptoms associated with COVID-19, e.g. fever, loss of taste or continuous new cough, please DO NOT attend for a blood test.
Earlier this year, the Government revised the guidance on Shielding for CEV patients. All those who have been identified as CEV have been advised to follow the same guidance as everyone else, whilst potentially thinking about extra precautions you could take to reduce your chance of catching COVID-19.
Taking into account this guidance, and the evidence that most patients have now resumed having their blood tests at their usual preferred location, UHCW will no longer be providing the Shielding phlebotomy service from Monday 13 December 2021. You will need to make arrangements to get your blood tests done, as you did prior to the pandemic at locations across Coventry and Warwickshire at www.uhcw.nhs.uk/bloodtests If your specialist has requested a blood test which is due to be taken prior to Monday 13th December, you can expect it to take place at a ‘Pop-up’ clinic, as before. Any blood tests required after this date will need to be a booked appointment.
You can keep up to date with the latest advice from the Government and from UHCW on the following website: www.gov.uk/government/publications/guidance-on-shielding-and-protecting-extremely-vulnerable-persons-from-covid-19/guidance-on-shielding-and-protecting-extremely-vulnerable-persons-from-covid-19
Click on the map for information about phlebotomy clinics in Coventry. You can book an appointment online at the locations in red.
Please book an appointment before attending for a blood test. Click on the ‘Book Online’ button above. Booking an appointment helps patients, their carers and family members to plan their hospital visit better, helping to reduce clinic waiting times and enabling patients to be seen much more quickly.
Location: Outpatients Department, on the ground floor. Opening hours: 8am-4.45pm, Monday to Friday (excluding bank holidays).
Children under 16 years old will need to book online here.
Please book an appointment before attending for a blood test, click on the ‘Book Online’ button above. Patients from Rugby and the surrounding areas are able to access the Friends Blood Taking Unit at the Hospital of St Cross.
Referrals for blood tests can be from GP's, practice nurses or from hospital consultants. Patients are also able to leave other samples, such as urine, which have been collected at home, at the hospital's Pathology Reception.
Location: Near Brookfield House, just off North Road - map here. Opening hours: The blood taking clinic sessions for adults and children are listed below:
Monday -Friday 7am-4:45pm Appointment only
Wednesday Evening 5pm-7pm Suspended due to COVID
Saturday Morning 7am-10pm Suspended due to COVID
April 2020 NEW - This Clinic is now by appointment. Please book an appointment before attending for a blood test. Click on the ‘Book Online’ button above.
Address: Stoney Stanton Road, Coventry CV1 4FS Location: Access is via the main doors, the Phlebotomy team are in Area A. Opening hours: Monday to Friday (excluding bank holidays). 8am–4.45pm
Glucose Tolerance Test (GTT)
Specialist Tests - There are a small number of specialist tests where blood needs to be taken on a hospital site as the sample must be transferred to the laboratory rapidly for the test to be undertaken. Click here for a list of these specialist tests and to find out more.