Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of the availability of phlebotomy services to perform blood tests for children in (a) Oxfordshire and (b) nationally.

The Government is committed to putting patients first. This means making sure that patients are seen on time and ensuring that patients have the best possible experience during their care.

Community diagnostic centres (CDCs) offer local populations a wide range of diagnostic tests closer to home as well as greater choice on where and how they are undertaken. This reduces the need for hospital visits, reduces pressure on hospitals, and speeds up diagnosis. CDCs are expected to offer their services to children and young people where it is safe and appropriate to do so. The Oxfordshire, Oxford CDC in Cowley delivers a range of diagnostic services, including phlebotomy services.

Phlebotomy services are also provided by general practices (GPs). Where services are provided by GP, they are commissioned locally by integrated care boards (ICBs), based on local population need, and are funded as part of their annual funding allocations.

In Oxfordshire, the Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire and Berkshire West ICB has commissioned GPs to deliver phlebotomy services for all ages, including children. Services must be led by suitably trained professionals.

Guidance communicated to GPs from the Berks, Bucks and Oxon Local Medical Committee, the body representing all NHS GPs practising in the Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire, and Berkshire area, is that GPs should not perform blood tests for patients under 12 years old and instead that these should be performed by specialist paediatric trained staff. Where GPs have clinical staff with the training, competence, and experience to perform blood tests on patients under 12 years old, these services may be available. However, at practices that do not have these staff, they will instead refer the child to alternative providers, such as in a children’s hospital clinic.