Patient Resources

Phlebotomy

If the GP has requested a blood test:

A walk-in blood clinic is available at Barbara Castle Way Health Centre and Darwen Health Centre. No appointment is necessary for this, but waiting may be unavoidable during busy periods. 

The clinic times are as follows:

Monday to Friday – 8:50am – 5:20pm for ages 15+

(Please ensure to take your blood form with you as they will not see you without it). Please note the surgery closes the door at 5pm each evening, so please collect your blood form before this time.

Please note: appointments will still need to be made for children’s bloods between the ages of 5 and 14 years. Prior to attending their appointment they may still need to apply Emla Cream to both arms (inner elbow), one hour before the blood test. A prescription for this cream and dressing can be obtained from their GP.

N.B Clinics are closed on Bank Holidays

---

Minor Eye Conditions Service

The Minor Eye Conditions Scheme (MECS) is available to people with new or very recent minor eye probems to get the help that they need quickly and easily closer to home.

Under this scheme, any patient who is registered with a Blackburn with Darwen GP can access this local service rather than waiting for a GP appointment or referral to a specialist clinic. Patients are able to self-present to an optometry or optician’s practice which provides this service. It may be useful to contact the opticians first to arrange a suitable appointment date and time.

Opening times vary but most are open between 9am and 5:30pm Monday – Saturday, and some 10am – 4:00pm on Sunday.

At a MECS appointment, clinical assessment, diagnosis and then clinical management will take place. Other, more serious eye problems – which may seem ‘minor’ – may require the help of an eye specialist (an ophthalmologist). If this is the case, the MECS practitioner can make the referral for the patient directly with the hospital, making it easier for them to get the treatment they need as quickly as possible.

The following conditions are seen under the MECS service –

• Watery eyes
• In-growing lashes (trichiasis) – feels like you have something in your eye
• Superficial foreign bodies
• Inflammation of the eyelids (blepharitis – red, flaky and itchy lids)
• Dry eyes (gritty/itchy/stinging/burning)
• Red eye (with normal vision and no pain)
• Flashing lights and “floaters”
• Styes and lid lumps (chalazion/hordeolum)

This service is available at the following optician shops: 

---

Non-Serious Injuries Service

If you have an injury that is minor and non-serious, you can get help from the Non-Serious Injuries Service which is available in Barbara Castle Way Health Centre and Darwen Health Centre.

This service is available Monday to Friday from 8:40am to 5:30pm on a walk-in basis. No appointment is needed.

The Non-Serious Injuries Service can treat:

• Minor wounds and lacerations
• Minor head injuries (no loss of consciousness)
• Bites and stings
• Soft tissue injury to the wrist and hand
• Minor injuries below the knee
• Minor burns and scalds
• Some skin infections

The Non-Serious Injuries Service cannot:

X-ray

Treat poorly children

Carry out sutures (stitches)