21/05/2026
Patient Notice - 21/05/26
From 1st June 2026, Friary House Surgery will no longer be able to carry out blood tests requested by hospitals, specialists, or other external healthcare services.
Going forward, we will only provide blood tests requested by a clinician within the practice, or for patients managed under a Shared Care Agreement.
If your blood test has been requested by a hospital consultant, specialist nurse, or another external clinician, the requesting service will need to arrange your blood test. Patients should attend:
• Outpatient Phlebotomy Service at Derriford Hospital
• Windsor House, Tavistock Road, Derriford, Plymouth
This change includes blood tests linked to:
• Surgical procedures
• Chemotherapy treatment
• Medication monitoring or medication changes
Why are we making this change?
This decision has been made to improve patient safety and ensure test results are managed by the appropriate clinical team.
Currently, blood test results taken at the surgery are automatically returned to our GPs, even when the test was requested by another service. This can create difficulties because:
• Our clinicians may not know why the blood test was requested
• It may not be clear whether the specialist team has reviewed the result
• Abnormal results may require additional follow-up to ensure the correct team takes responsibility
This can lead to confusion, delays, and potential risks to patient care.
We understand this change may be inconvenient for some patients, and we appreciate their understanding. Our priority is to ensure that test results are reviewed by the correct clinician, follow-up is managed appropriately, and patient care remains safe, coordinated, and consistent.
From 1st June 2026, the practice staff will signpost any patient advised to have a blood test by a specialist clinician back to the requesting service.
Thank you for your cooperation and understanding.
