Temporary changes have been made to the Royal Free London’s adult blood taking services. This is part of the trust’s response to the COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic, to protect patients, staff and the public.

Chase Farm Hospital and Royal Free Hospital

The blood taking services remain open for urgent tests and for those patients who need to come in for a regular test such as medication monitoring.

You will not be able to walk-in to our hospitals for your blood test. 

An appointment must be booked for all tests. Booking details are available online. Please bring your confirmation text/email - you will not be able to enter the hospital without this.

Temporary changes have also been made to clinic opening times:

Chase Farm Hospital: Monday to Thursday, 8am to 5pm

Opening times on Fridays remain the same: 8am to 3.45pm

Royal Free Hospital: Monday to Friday, 7.30am to 5pm

The service will be closed on Saturdays until further notice. Patients with appointments are being contacted.

Barnet Hospital and Edgware Community Hospital

Both blood taking services for out-patients will be closed from Monday 6 April until further notice.  Affected patients are being contacted directly.  The only exception is if you attend for anticoagulation therapy - please attend as advised by that service.

Out-patient appointments

If you visit one of our hospitals for an out-patient appointment and your clinician has advised that you need a blood test, they will explain your options during your appointment.

If you, or someone living in the same house as you, develops either of the following symptoms:

  • a new, continuous cough - this means coughing a lot for more than an hour, or three or more coughing episodes in a 24 hour period (if you usually have a cough, it may be worse than usual)
  • a high temperature - this means you feel hot to touch on your chest or back (you do not need to measure temperature)

Please stay indoors and keep away from others. Please do not come to hospital.

  1. Visit: www.111.nhs.uk/COVID-19 for advice on next steps.

  2. If you feel you cannot cope with your symptoms at home or your condition gets worse, please visit: www.111.nhs.uk/COVID-19. If you cannot get help online, please call 111.