Industrial action: Phlebotomy (blood samples) services
We recognise the valuable contribution that our phlebotomists make to patient care, and we will continue to work closely in partnership with our local union representatives and phlebotomists to resolve these issues.
Last updated: 10 April 2025
How are phlebotomy (blood samples) services affected by industrial action?
Patients who have an appointment at either CGH or GRH during periods of industrial action should attend as normal unless they hear from us directly to advise otherwise.
However, there will be no phlebotomy service/ blood samples taken (using a needle) in outpatients at West Block, Cheltenham General Hospital, Edward Jenner Centre, Gloucestershire Royal Hospital or Quayside Community Diagnostic Centre (CDC) during industrial action.
If you are attending an outpatient appointment and are required to give a blood sample, the team will either perform this within the clinic or reschedule an appointment outside industrial action periods.
Alternatively you can present as a walk-in patient to the phlebotomy service, again outside periods of industrial action.
We will, of course, continue to take bloods (using a needle) throughout periods of industrial action across other services such as emergency care where our clinical teams regularly provide this care.
We would like to apologise for any inconvenience this may cause.
What exceptions are in place?
Patients are advised to have blood samples taken at their GP surgery unless they meet any of the criteria below:
- Oncology, Haematology, Cancer or critically urgent patients will continue to be covered within Edward Jenner Unit (EJU)
- Certain blood appointments for children under the age of 6 or up to the age of 16 where the child has additional needs. This is a by-appointment service only; please call the Paediatric Outpatient Department at GRH on 0300 4228383 to arrange an appointment
- There will be a limited service hot clinic phlebotomy service located at both Cheltenham General Hospital Outpatients and Gloucestershire Royal Hospital Outpatients. This will provide a service limited to:
- Patients who require diagnostic blood results for an appointment within the next 2 weeks
- Patients where bloods must be taken on a certain date/time as part of a treatment pathway (such as Oncology, Haematology, Cancer Pathways, Biological drug therapy that requires blood tests to monitor or receive the drug therapy)
- Patients that require specialist/ complex bloods such as time-dependent, or require special treatment based on the integrity requirements of the sample/ test type
- Patients who are considered vulnerable or have mobility issues
Who can still have blood tests at the hospitals during Industrial Action?
Yes
-
Oncology, Haematology, Cancer or critically urgent patients (Edward Jenner Unit)
-
Children under the age of 6 or up to the age of 16 where the child has additional needs
-
Patients who require diagnostic blood results for an appointment within the next 2 weeks
-
Patients where bloods must be taken on a certain date/time as part of a treatment pathway
-
Patients that require specialist/ complex bloods such as time-dependent, or require special treatment
-
Patients who are considered vulnerable or have mobility issues
No
-
Routine blood tests ordered by your GP
-
Children aged over 6 years, unless they have additional needs
When are UNISON leading the phlebotomists industrial action?
The following periods of industrial action have been declared by UNISON:
- Monday 17 March to/and including Wednesday 19 March.
- Monday 24 March to/and including Thursday 27 March.
- Monday 31 March to/and including Friday 4 April.
- Monday 7 April to/and including Saturday 12 April.
- Monday 14 April to/and including Sunday 20 April.
- Monday 21 April to/and including Sunday 27 April.
Why are UNISON leading Industrial Action with our Phlebotomists?
UNISON say the industrial action is in response to a pay and role banding.
All NHS Agenda for Change roles are matched to national role profiles (that are used to write job descriptions). These have been developed with unions and are regularly reviewed.
Our Phlebotomist's profiles match the national one, which is a Band 2.
It is not accurate to suggest the Trust has underpaid our Phlebotomists when they are paid in line with the national role profile.
Other local health services also follow the same national profile and pay the same as we do for phlebotomist roles.
How much do phlebotomists get paid?
The majority of the Trust's phlebotomists are Band 2, as determined by NHS Agenda for Change, a nationally agreed pay and conditions framework. The hourly rate of Band 2 staff, as determined by Agenda for Change, is £12.08.
What are UNISON asking to be changed?
Our Phlebotomists job descriptions match the national profiles. We have encouraged UNISON to highlight any changes they believe should be made to the job description for our role.
However, they have reshared their existing job description and suggested that the banding has been incorrectly applied, which is not the case.
When will the dispute be resolved?
The Trust is working closely with our local union representatives and phlebotomists to resolve these issues.
What plans are in place to ensure patient continuity?
In response to industrial action by UNISON, we continue to make plans to minimise disruption as much as possible. For individual patient advice about blood samples please see the note above.