Freedom of Information (FOI)
Garden House
New Scapa Road
Kirkwall
Orkney KW15 1BQ
www.ohb.scot.nhs.uk
Dr Robert S. Coull
Via email: request-519818-
Date: 11/10/2018
xxxxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx.xxx
Tel: 01856 888 220
Fax: 01856 888 211
Email: xxxxxx.xxxxxxxxxxx@xxx.xxx
Dear Dr Robert S. Coull
RE: Freedom of Information Request 201819/300 - Provision of phlebotomy services
Your Query
Date of Request
September 2018
Please could you describe the provision of phlebotomy services by your Board?
In addition to District Nurses employed by the Health Board, please describe:
1. Are phlebotomy services provided by phlebotomists employed by the Health Board?
2. Are phlebotomy services provided directly by GP practices by phlebotomists employed by them
and, if so, how are GPs remunerated for this?
3. How are blood samples transported from the point of collection to the laboratory for processing?
4. Do any phlebotomy services provided by your Health Board post blood samples to the laboratory
for processing?
Response
NHS Orkney can provide a response for our board run GP practices.
1. NHS Orkney does not employee any phlebotomists. Phlebotomy services are conducted as part
of clinical and nursing staff’s wider roles.
2. Nursing and clinical staff who provide phlebotomy services to our board administered practices
are all salaried.
3. Samples are transported to the laboratory in sealed containers via van, ferry and air depending
on the practice submitting the samples.
4. Blood samples are not posted to the laboratory for processing.
I hope this helps with your request.
Orkney NHS Board Headquarters:
Garden House, New Scapa Road,
Kirkwall, Orkney KW15 1BQ
Chair: Ian Kinniburgh
Chief Executive: Gerry O’Brien
Our community, we care, you matter....
Orkney NHS Board is the common name of Orkney Health Board
NHS Orkney is a small remote and rural health board within Scotland. All responses to Freedom of
Information requests are collated in accordance with the terms of the Freedom of Information (Scotland)
Act 2002.
Under section 20 (1) of the Act, if you are dissatisfied with the way NHS Orkney has dealt with your
request, you have a right to ask for a review of our actions and decisions in relation to your request, and
you have a right to appeal to the Scottish Information Commissioner.
A request for review should be made within 40 working days of receipt of this letter and NHS Orkney will
reply within 20 working days of receipt. Review requests should be sent in writing to Dr Louise Wilson,
Director of Public Health, NHS Orkney, Garden House, New Scapa Road, Kirkwall, Orkney KW15 1BQ or
by e-mail via xxxxxx.xxxxxxxxxxx@xxx.xxx.
Requests for appeal should be made in writing to: Scottish Information Commissioner, Kinburn Castle,
Doubledykes Road, St Andrews, Fife, KY16 9DS. Telephone: 01334 464610, Fax: 01334 464611, e.mail:
xxxxxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx.xxxx.
FOI responses (subject to the removal of personal information) are published on NHS Orkney’s website at:
http://www.ohb.scot.nhs.uk/article.asp?page=13&parent=5.
Yours sincerely,
Freedom of Information Officer
NHS Orkney
Orkney NHS Board Headquarters:
Garden House, New Scapa Road,
Kirkwall, Orkney KW15 1BQ
Chair: Ian Kinniburgh
Chief Executive: Gerry O’Brien
Our community, we care, you matter....
Orkney NHS Board is the common name of Orkney Health Board