New blood testing service at Deal hospital
A new specialist phlebotomy service is now available at the Victoria Hospital , Deal, to complement the routine blood tests already available at local GP surgeries.
There is no change to the routine and diagnostic blood tests currently offered by GPs. The introduction of this service at Victoria Hospital will provide additional appointments, for specific needs.
Appointments will be referral only, from GPs or other health professionals . Surgeries able to refer to the clinic include St Richards Road Surgery, The New Golf Road Surgery, Cedars Surgery, Balmoral Surgery, Sandwich Medical Practice and Ash Surgery.
The specialist service will launch in two phases, with phase one running four days within the first month including:
- urgent testing: Tests that need to be prioritised due to clinical urgency.
- difficult venipuncture: Also known as 'difficulty obtaining a blood sample', due to factors such as small or fragile veins.
- fasting: Where the patient must avoid food and drink for a specified period before the blood test.
- glucose tolerance testing: A specific test that measures the body's response to sugar over time.
The second phase, incorporating a children's clinic, is planned for January 2026.
Information for GPs
This is a pre-booked clinic with referrals only via GP surgeries in Deal and Sandwich as listed.
- Patients need to meet clinic criteria before booking.
- All patients booked need to bring a DART form, bottle labels and if booked for a glucose blood testing they need to bring all the above plus the glucose drink.
- If criteria is not met, patients need to speak with their GP for alternative arrangements.
- Appointments will not be booked for routine blood tests.
- This is not a walk-in clinic.
