Making The Blood Boil
England, Hospital, Jerk, London, Patients, UK | Healthy | July 13, 2019
(I am at the blood bank. There are two clinics running simultaneously: one for regular blood tests and another for pregnancy-related blood, linked with the midwife clinic next door. Regular clinic patients have to abide by the ticket system. The midwife patients do not.)
Phlebotomist: “Ms. [My Name], just come through here, please.”
(I stand up to go through to the chair behind the curtain, only to be pushed out of the way by a middle-aged woman.)
Woman: “I’ve been waiting over an hour for a simple blood test and that girl has only been waiting five minutes. You will take my blood now.”
Phlebotomist: “Ma’am. You need to get out of that chair. I can’t take your blood here. You need to wait until you’re called by someone on the other side.”
Woman: “I’m not moving! I’m number 27! I’m next to be called!”
Phlebotomist: “Fair enough. When’s your due date? Have you fasted for two hours for your prenatal diabetes test?”
Woman: “What are you on about? I’m not here for a diabetes check! I’m not pregnant.”
Me: “Well, I am. So get out of that chair!”
Woman: “Well, I never!”
Me: “Lady, this is the midwives’ clinic. You’re in the wrong place!”
Woman: “I’ve been waiting over an hour!”
Phlebotomist: “Well, you’re going to have to wait longer than that. Security is here to take you away. Come back another day, when you’ve calmed down.”
(She was escorted out and I got my blood done. Her number was called as I left the waiting room.)
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