Hospital want me to travel an hour each way for a blood test?

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I'm starting chemo next week and as is the norm, they want to monitor my blood before each dose. This is fine, however they're an hour away from where I live and I refuse to travel that distance for a 5 minute blood test so they'll be doing it at a closer hospital or not at all.

I have yet to speak to them about this, however I was just wondering if someone else has been in a similar position and what happened? 

  • Hi , it’s difficult I know so much travelling back and forth. I live about 45 minutes by car from the cancer centre (travelling by public transport would probably take a couple of hours) .  I go for blood tests the day before treatment. I could go to a hospital closer in miles , but would probably still take 45 minutes because the roads are busier, parking is a problem and public transport limited. I’ve got used to it over time and know the blood tests are necessary to make sure everything is ok for treatment to go ahead. 

  • Can't you get an appointment with a nurse at your Doctors surgery that's what I did

  • Hi I had the same issue too so asked my cancer clinic can I get the bloods done at my local hospital which is 10 minutes down the road from me! They said yes and would send my blood forms through the post for me. I then found the times of the phlebotomy clinic popped along give my forms and have my bloods done. The only thing the blood clinic couldn’t do was picc lines but I didn’t have one so that may be an issue. 
    Your cancer clinic will work with you with regards to bloods and consultations etc if you are far from them. My routine was bloods on a Monday then a phone consultation on a Tuesday and chemo on Thursday, after the first few chemo I was then allowed to go to a more local clinic that’s a part of the cancer clinic but after a reaction to my chemo I then had to go back to the clinic which is over an hour and half away but hey ho needs must x just ask to see what can be done and good luck with everything x