Phlebotomy

Opening times:

From Monday 6 October 2025, Windsor House will move to an appointment-only booking system

• Monday to Friday, 8am to 4:30pm

• Closed on Bank Holidays

 

Getting here

Windsor House, Tavistock Road, Derriford, Plymouth, Devon, PL6 5UF

• There is allocated parking for visitors at the front of the building.

• Parking for patients is free for the first two hours. Please give your car registration number at reception on arrival.

• Parking is free for Disabled badge holders.

 

 

How to get your blood test:

From Monday 6 October 2025, Windsor House will move to an appointment-only booking system. Find out about the new booking system.

• Enter the main door of Windsor House and report to reception.

• The receptionist will check your request is on the system before you enter the waiting room. You will be given a ticket by the receptionist.

• If your bloods are not booked into the system, you can call your clinician and chase these, but you will need to leave the queue and rejoin once your request is confirmed.

 

Waiting Times

• This location is exceptionally busy, and when the waiting room is full you will not be allowed access until this has been cleared.

• Wait times can often exceed 1.5 hours and patients arriving after 3pm are not guaranteed to be seen.

 

New Booking System

Changes to our blood tests service from 6 October 2025:

• Booking required: From 6 October you must book an appointment online for routine, non-urgent blood tests at Windsor House.

• Booking portal opens 6 October: Patients can begin booking on the day the system launches for appointments on or after 6 October. A link to book will go live closer to the time of launch. 

• The new booking system used is through Swiftqueue, a software where patients can use their NHS login directly from the Swiftqueue site, so there is no need for additional logins which can be hard to remember. If you don’t have an NHS account, see our NHS Login and app section, to set one up.

• If you are unable to access the Swift Queue system, please ask a relative, friend or carer for support. If you are still unable to access the system please contact 01752 433040 from the 6th October who will be able to help with appointment scheduling or system access issues.

• Transition period: Windsor House will continue to accept a limited number of walk-in patients for a short period after 6 October while people adjust. Walk-ins will then stop.

This change is a direct response to patient feedback and operational challenges, ensuring that people have a more comfortable and timely experience when attending for their blood tests.

With the new booking system, you’ll be able to:

• Choose a date and time that suits up to 16 weeks

• Confirm your appointment and receive reminders by email or text

To create an NHS login you’ll need:

• A smartphone or tablet with internet access

• An email address you can access

• Your NHS number (if you have it) or details such as your full name, date of birth and postcode

• A form of photo ID (passport, UK or EU driving licence, or UK biometric residence permit) for identity verification

Download the NHS App

• Go to the App Store (iPhone/iPad) or Google Play Store (Android).

• Search for “NHS App” and install it.

Open the App and Start Sign-Up

• Tap “Continue with NHS login.”

• Select “Create an account.”

Enter Your Details

• Provide your email address and create a password.

• You’ll receive a security code by email—enter it in the app to confirm your email.

• Add your mobile number; you’ll get a text code to verify.

Prove Your Identity

• When prompted, choose “Verify your identity online.”

• Follow the on-screen instructions to:

1. Take a photo of your chosen ID document (UK passport, UK photocard driving licence (full or provisional), UK biometric residence permit (BRP)).

2. Record a short video of yourself reading the provided phrase (this checks you match the photo ID).

Link Your NHS Record

Enter your NHS number (if known) or your name, date of birth and postcode so the system can match your GP record.

Complete Setup

• Once verified, you’ll receive confirmation—this can take a few hours.

• Sign back in with your email and password.

• Set up the app’s security (Face ID, Touch ID, or a 6-digit passcode).

If you don’t have photo ID, the app offers an alternative route: you can request a linkage key from your GP practice to finish sign-up. 

Keep your email and password safe; you’ll need them whenever you log in.

You can also create an NHS login via a web browser at NHS App  and then use the same credentials in the app.

Opening times:

• Monday to Thursday, 8am to 5:20pm (with the last patient seen at 5:10pm).

• Friday, 8am to 4:50pm (with the last patient seen at 4.40pm).

• Closed on Bank Holidays

 

Getting here

Main Outpatients, Level 6, Derriford Hospital, Derriford Road, Plymouth, PL6 8DH

Visit our public transport and car parking page

 

How to get your blood test:

• Ask for Waiting Room 2 when you get to the main outpatient area.

• There is a small waiting room shared with other outpatient clinics.

• Take a ticket from the stand next to the phlebotomy room door. When the waiting room is full, the phlebotomy team will remove the tickets.

• You will be called in when it is your turn.

 

Waiting Times

Wait times average 30 minutes during busy times.

 

Contact us

01752 430876

Phlebotomists are part of the Assistant Technical Officer (ATO) group of staff based within the Combined Laboratory. The phlebotomy team provides a venepuncture service to both inpatients and outpatients.

For safe-sample labelling requirements and procedure please refer to the Trust document ‘Hospital Transfusion Policy’ [TRW.HGV.POL.269], Blood Sampling, section 7.

 

Main Outpatient Department, Level 6, Derriford Hospital, Plymouth

• This is the best location for patients with procedures or appointments on the same day. Please state if applicable and staff will send bloods immediately to the laboratory.

• Unless stated as urgent, samples are collected from the clinic at 11am, 2pm, 4pm and at the end of the day.

• Requests for specialist tests must also be done at this location (i.e. the samples must be kept on ice, in the dark, processed within 15 min).

 

The Community Hub: Windsor House, Tavistock Road, Plymouth

• Not suitable for urgent bloods, patients with procedures the same day, or for specialist tests. Please use the main OPD phlebotomy service at Derriford Hospital in the main outpatient's department, Level 6.

• The team will pause booking in patients when the waiting room is full and over lunchtime (12pm to 1pm) when there is reduced staff in the phlebotomy room.

• All samples are collected from the clinic and sent to the lab at 4.50 pm.

The Phlebotomy team are unable to see patients under the age of 16. For patients under the age of 16 please contact:

The Children & Young Peoples Outpatients Department

Level 12

Derriford Hospital

01752 245126 or 01752 430927