Our Healthcare assistants run an appointment based clinic at the surgery each morning to perform investigations ordered by your GP or nurse. They are responsible for taking blood samples, performing ECGs, urine testing, weight monitoring, checking blood pressure, setting up 24 hour ambulatory blood pressure monitoring and various other such roles.
Please note that many blood specimens need to reach the hospital lab the day they are taken as the blood degrades if held overnight. Blood samples are taken to the hospital via NHS lab transport at around 11 am and at around 2 pm. We have no later lab collection for samples; for this reason most blood tests need to be taken in a morning appointment slot and con not be taken in late afternoon or evening appointments.
Some investigations such as X-rays, ultrasound scans, exercise tolerance tests, echocardiograms and endoscopies need to be undertaken at Rochdale Infirmary. Where appropriate these can be arranged by your GP.