'Positivity and a smile is half of what you need.'
As part of the #OurWXpeople spotlight series, this week we are highlighting the great work carried out by the phlebotomy team.
Exciting improvements to the service are happening and Whipps Cross is the first hospital within Barts Health to move to a booked blood test appointment service in our outpatient clinics. This will reduce queues and waiting times in clinics, support social distancing and improve the patient experience.
We caught up with Ana Lourenco, Phlebotomist, to give us all the details on the department:
Hi Ana, can you tell us a bit about yourself?
My name is Ana and I’ve been working at Whipps Cross Hospital since 2014. I’ve been taking blood since 2002. I used to work in laboratories but I missed having contact with patients, so I decided to join the phlebotomy team.
What does a typical day look like for you working in phlebotomy?
A typical day varies depending on where I am allocated. I could be allocated to work in one of our community clinics, the outpatients department or on a specific ward round.
Before I carry out the procedure, I will confirm the patients identity and check the information against the specific request. I will then insert a needle into the most suitable vein and draw a small amount of blood which I will then label and package before sending it for analysis. Where patients seem anxious or tell me they are nervous I will spend time discussing the procedure and reassuring them before taking the blood.
We are humorously known as the ‘vampires’, but we are extremely friendly, we promise!
What do you enjoy most about your job?
I enjoy the contact with patients the most. I enjoy being able to give a good experience, even though the patient may be anxious about having a blood test. We often have to deal with nervous or needle phobic patients along with challenging situations and the workload can be heavy, but it’s all part of our daily routine. Positivity and a smile is half of what you need!
Has the pandemic affected the way you and the team work ?
Yes, the pandemic had a big impact on how we worked. Doing a ward round in full PPE is a challenge in itself and at times all of us had anxious moments. But I’m very proud of how our team responded and how we gelled together as a team – we really looked out for each other. The team pulled together instead of pulling apart and we continued to deliver the best for our patients. We couldn’t have gone through the pandemic without the help and support of our management team who have made significant improvements to how we work as a team and the how the service as a whole operates.
How would you entice a prospective employee to come and work in the phlebotomy team at WCH?
We are very friendly team who care for our patients and each other. If you want to deliver the best care, are flexible, can adapt to daily challenges and can always put our patients first, then you’ll be very welcome to join us.
Tell us something interesting about yourself.
I am a qualified biomedical scientist, so I could be working in the laboratory, but I love this job so much that I decided to work in phlebotomy instead. If anyone asks, I am 30 years old…. Always! I have two beautiful children and like many other NHS staff I try to keep a good balance between my private and professional life.
Read our previous spotlight features: