Wellingborough campaigners call for reduced wait times for blood tests at Isebrook Hospital

The Freedom of Information request, submitted by Wellingborough and Rushden Green Party campaigner Paul Crofts, found current routine waits of 57 days at Isebrook Hospital, 71 days at Nene Park and seven days in Corby.

Mr Crofts said: “A 57-day wait at Isebrook and 71 days at Nene Park, compared with just seven days in Corby, is a considerable disparity.

“People deserve to know why these differences exist and what is going to be done to bring these waits down?”

University Hospitals of Northamptonshire’s (UHN) head of pathology Simon Hewson apologised for long wait times caused by high demand in August 2025, and issued another apology in April last year as waiting times grew and the service reached ‘breaking point’.

In response to Mr Crofts’ FOI, the University Hospitals of Northamptonshire’s managing director, Julie Hogg, said: “We recognise that phlebotomy provision across the whole of the county, especially in the north, is under significant pressure and we are working with the Integrated Care Board (ICB) to support redesign of blood-taking services across the county.

"This is in line with the government 10-year health plan to bring care closer to home.

“At present, there are two different models. In the west, most GP practices arrange and provide blood-taking for their own patients, and the hospital operates a single blood-taking unit on site. In the north, KGH has historically provided blood-taking for both hospital and GP/community requests across multiple locations.

“Following a review across both trusts, with input from NHS England, are working together to align the primary care blood-taking model across Northamptonshire, in line with approaches used elsewhere in the East Midlands and nationally.

“The aim is to deliver a service that is local and convenient for patients, supports timely access, and enables hospital phlebotomy services to focus capacity on inpatient and hospital-requested activity.

“We recognise that transition will take time, and we will continue to work with partners to support patients during the change.”

All blood tests at Isebrook must be booked in advance, and can no longer be booked by calling the main Isebrook reception, instead patients must book a space online.

Currently, bookings at Isebrook Hospital are being taken for appointments in early November.

Cllr Paul Mannion, Wellingborough town councillor (Green) for the Croyland and Swanspool ward, said: “Labour keeps telling us the NHS is getting better but people in Wellingborough and Rushden still face a 57-day wait for something as basic as a routine blood test.

“They also talk a lot about reforming the NHS but you cannot reform your way out of simply not having enough capacity. The trust itself says demand significantly exceeds the appointments available.”