FURTHER to the letter regarding working conditions for phlebotomists at Trafford General Hospital (March 26), I have to say that things are no better at Altrincham General.
Due to various medical conditions, I have to have regular blood tests, using the phlebotomy department at Altrincham.
Inevitably, whenever I visit the department, there is a huge queue of people waiting. The seating area on the actual ward is full, as is another waiting room off the corridor. Quite often, people are having to hang about in this corridor too.
Incredibly, the number of phlebotomists usually on duty to deal with all these people is a mere two!.
One one occasion, it was even worse, with, for whatever reason, one poor girl having to deal with a mass of agitated people. God knows when she would have been able to take a break or even get herself a drink. I've witnessed on more than one occasion people becoming aggressive with the staff, because they've had to wait so long, having a go at them for something that is, essentially, not their fault.
In my opinion (and, I suspect many other people's) the NHS is top-heavy, with highly paid managerial staff far outnumbering the troops on the ground, who do all the real work for meagre payment.
Altrincham's phlebotomy department should have as many as four members of staff on duty all the time. As it is, the girls do their best under adverse conditions. Trouble is - they shouldn't have to.
To the people queuing for a blood test - give the girls a break. To management - employ more staff!
John Greaney
Clarke Crescent
Hale
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