ELDERLY patients are being made to wait in the rain for blood tests while the lucky few cram inside a “claustrophobic” waiting room.

When Carmel King went to get a blood test at Silverthorn Medical Centre, in Friars Close, Chingford, on Thursday (March 9), she was immediately directed to the rear of the building. 

Mrs King arrived soon after the 8.30am opening time and managed to squeeze herself inside a waiting room, which soon became full.

The makeshift waiting room is designated as a fire escape and exit route for the medical centre. 

As she waited to get seen by one of the two phlebotomists she witnessed patients being made to wait outside under no cover. 

East London and West Essex Guardian Series:

Carmel King had an 'awful' experience at Silverthorn

Mrs King said the services have really gone downhill since a portion of the centre was taken over by the Old Church Surgery. 

She said: “It was glum it was really awful and depressing to be in a room so claustrophobic.

“Fortunately it was dry when I went but I understand it is commonplace for patients to stand in the rain. 

“With lots of elderly and wheelchair users coming in they need a place to sit down.

“I did well to get seen but even I was waiting for over an hour.

“The phlebotomists are very nice but they’re overwhelmed with people.” 

The medical centre is rated 1.5 stars out of five on its NHS website, which lets users review their experiences. 

Some patients described “waiting for an hour before it opens” to guarantee they got seen. 

Others called the service “appalling” and “totally unacceptable” for refusing them a blood test because of high waiting numbers.

An anonymous reviewer said they turned up at 11.50am, nearly two hours before the centre closed at 1.30pm, but were still refused a blood test. 

Another reviewer said it would be “chaos” if a fire broke out as the waiting area remains an escape route in case of emergencies. 

A spokesperson for Waltham Forest Clinical Commissioning Group said they are “sorry” to hear about the difficulty facing patients getting blood tests.

They added: “We are aware of the challenges currently facing our phlebotomy service, particularly at Silverthorn which is a well-used site. 

“Because it is a walk-in service, on some days due to high demand it is unfortunately not possible for the phlebotomists to see everyone trying to access the service.

“Efforts are made to extend the phlebotomists’ shifts where possible so more people can be seen, but this is subject to the availability of the phlebotomy staff and the room the service uses at the centre. 

“Waltham Forest CCG has recently redesigned the specification for the phlebotomy service with the aim of reducing waiting times, and we hope this will take effect from summer 2017.”