Better blood tests have led to more patients being seen and clinics staying open for longer.

Waltham Forest’s services have been praised in a review by local NHS commissioners.

The new community blood testing service, driven by North East London Foundation Trust, was launched in November 2017 and has received more than 100 comments from patients, GPs and local people since then.

The service was redesigned by NHS Waltham Forest Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) using feedback from the local Healthwatch and patients’ comments.

Patients said they wanted longer opening hours, more blood doctors, and changes to the waiting system so they knew how long they would wait or how to rebook an appointment.

The CCG’s review shows in its first six months, the service saw around 6,000 more patients than in the same period than a year ago.

More than half of bookings by patients and the public are being made using the service’s online booking system, which enables people to select their appointment in advance.

Walk-in appointments are still available, and where GPs request a blood test, people can be seen within 24 hours.

GPs are also able to book urgent blood tests on their patients’ behalf.

Dr Anwar Khan, chairman of the CCG and a local GP, said: “People are now able to choose a time that suits them – potentially avoiding long queues and overcrowding at busy times.

“By providing these different options, we are making the service easier to use and giving people a much better opportunity to book an appointment that suits them.”

Blood testing is available at three sites in Waltham Forest, all open Monday to Friday:

-Silverthorn Medical Centre, 2 Friars Close, Chingford E4 6UN – open 8.15am to 12.30pm

-St James Health Centre, 47 St James St, Walthamstow E17 7NH – open 8.15am to 12.30pm and 1.15pm to 5.30pm

-Langthorne Health Centre, 13 Langthorne Road, Leytonstone E11 4HX – open 8.15am to 12.30pm.

The area’s health trust has also made more home visits available. There are now six appointments per day, five days per week, for people referred by their GP. The majority of home visits are completed within two days of referral.

In response to public feedback, ‘meet and greet’ volunteers are being recruited to assist patients while waiting at blood testing clinics.

For more information about the community blood testing service, and video guides on how to book online, click here.

The trust has encouraged residents to keep logging their feedback by calling 0300 300 1711 or emailing nelftcomplaints@nelft.nhs.uk.