Sherwood Forest Hospitals extends blood test services with new Saturday clinics

Building on the success of the new Mansfield Community Diagnostic Centre, which has already delivered over 7,000 health checks, the Centre is offering hundreds more blood tests on Saturdays.

Sherwood Forest Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is proud to announce an expansion of its phlebotomy (blood test) services with the introduction of additional Saturday clinics in the Tony Hughes Centre, at Mansfield Community Hospital on Stockwell Gate, Mansfield. This extension is part of the Trust’s ongoing commitment to provide convenient and accessible healthcare services to the local community.

The drop-in clinic will be open on the following Saturdays:

• February 3rd, 10th, 17th, and 24th
• March 2nd, 9th,16th, 23rd and 30th

All these clinics will take place from 8am to 12noon and there is no need to book an appointment.

This initiative aims to provide a more flexible option for those who may find it challenging to attend during regular weekday hours. Patients must have a referral from a General Practitioner (GP) or their hospital team to have a blood test at these clinics.

Lauren Brown, the outpatients matron for Sherwood Forest Hospitals said: “At Sherwood Forest Hospitals we recognise the importance of offering convenient and efficient healthcare services. By extending the operating hours of our blood test clinic, we hope to better serve our community and ensure that vital health checks are accessible to everyone.”

The Saturday clinics are part of a trial and depending on the uptake between now and 16 March could be extended beyond this date.

The Community Diagnostics Centre, which is the first in Nottinghamshire, is already offering a one-stop shop for various tests during a single visit. This means patients can receive quicker assurance of an 'all clear' or start more timely medical treatment following a diagnosis.

Work is due to start soon on a purpose-built facility which is expected to open in March 2025.

For more information on blood tests and other health initiatives available at the CDC, please visit the Trust’s website at Community Diagnostics Centre (CDC) - Sherwood Forest Hospitals (sfh-tr.nhs.uk).