23 April 2019
A team of volunteer Physiotherapists from University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire (UHCW) NHS Trust is heading to the capital this weekend as part of the London Marathon’s official medical team.
The group of 25 sports injury experts will spend the day helping runners with strains and exhaustion. They will also be providing medical advice.
Senior Physiotherapist Sue Crewe-Smith MBE, who has been recruiting volunteers for almost two decades, said: “The physios who volunteer experience first-hand the type of medical problems that can occur.
"It’s a brilliant experience for our physiotherapists to use their skills at a big event like the London Marathon.
“I notice the improvement in their professional and personal development following this event every year.
"We are incredibly grateful to all of our volunteers, who provide an amazing service and help to put Coventry on the map."
The UHCW volunteers make up part of a larger medical team for the marathon, which includes doctors and nurses from nearby London trusts and St John Ambulance.
The team will be based at the last mile of the 26.2 mile slog, treating muscle cramps, joint pains, sprained ankles from discarded bottles on the course, blisters and overheating problems.
The volunteers will also be looking out for one specific runner among the 37,000 taking part, as number 19,033 will be their own Tim Rhode-Jones.
Tim said: "I am very excited, this is the big one for me. I am aiming for a time of three hours, 20 minutes and am raring to get going."
Sue offered her top three tips for runners on the big day:
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IMPORTANT INFORMATION ON BLOOD TESTING DUE TO COVID-19
Shielding Patients in very high risk for COVID Group
All people who have been identified as very high risk (requiring shielding) for COVID are in the process of being contacted by their clinician regarding their ongoing care. If you require a blood test whilst shielding as part of your care, appointment details including when and where your blood test will be carried out will be sent to you via a text message from SwiftQueue who manage our blood test bookings.
If you have regular blood tests and have been asked to have these, please ensure you have blood forms at home available; if you haven’t please contact your specialty to have some sent to you in advance of your blood tests.
Older People and Vulnerable Adults
People who are in the groups identified by the government as higher risk e.g are over 70 or receive a yearly flu jab, but are not in the very high risk (requiring shielding) group, can attend our normal blood test clinics. The blood test clinics and waiting areas have been adapted so that social distancing can be maintained.
Please check the locations on the map below.
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.