Children’s bloods clinic: Information for parents and carers

The aim of the children’s bloods clinic service is to support  your child to carry out the blood test requested by your child’s paediatrician. Blood tests can sometimes be distressing for some children. To be able to support your child with this process please read this information with your child and answer the questions that follow.

Planning your child’s appointment

Planning your child’s appointment with the clinic nurse will help your child to be more relaxed and co-operative with the blood test. Your clinic nurse will contact you prior to your appointment to ask you information including how your child communicates, sensory needs, previous trauma, learning needs, cultural and (or) spiritual needs, preferred pronouns. They may also ask you if your child has a fear of needles or previous trauma which may heighten your child’s anxiety during their appointment.

Showing your child the “easy read” resources and videos will help prepare your child for their appointment and give them the best chance at understanding what blood taking involves

Desensitation

If your child has a fear or needles or if they have trauma which may heighten their anxiety during this appointment please inform the clinic nurse team. Our play therapist may contact you to arrange opportunities for your child to visit the clinic and work with you and your child to develop a plan to achieving a successful blood test.

Sensory difference

Our senses help us to understand  our body and the world around us. Our senses include: touch, taste, smell, sight, sound, balance, body awareness including where our body is in terms of the environment and how our body moves  and how our brain reads the signals from our body.

Some children are very sensitive and this can cause them to feel anxious or upset in certain environments which will prevent them from cooperating with the blood test. For example some children are very sensitive to noises and this may cause your child to feel unsettled if they are waiting in a busy waiting room before their appointment. If your child is unsettled before their appointment they are less likely to cooperate with the blood test. Recognising your child’s sensory sensitivities can help to make a plan to reduce or minimise these challenges so that your child can accept a blood test more comfortably.

Things that can help

• Plan your appointment with your bloods clinic nurse
• Prepare your child for this appointment by showing your child the leaflets and watching the videos
• Apply the topical creams before the appointment as instructed
• Consider whether your child needs desensitation work and share this with your clinic nurse.
• Offer distractions using toys or digital devices
• Sedation or restraint should only be caried out if all other practical steps have been taken

Questions

Planning your child’s appointment

1. Has your child had a blood test before?
2. How does your child communicate?
3. Is English your child’s first language?
4. What does your child like to be called?
5. What is your child’s preferred pronouns?
6. Does your child have any spiritual needs which would prevent them from having a blood test?

Sensory needs

1. Will your child be able to wait in a waiting room with other people?
2. Is your child sensitive to light?
3. Is your child sensitive to smells?
4. Is your child sensitive to touch?
5. Is your child able to have a plaster after their bloods have been taken?
6. Are you able to bring toys, books or a digital device to distract your child during the appointment?
7. Does your child require any support with their mobility?

Extra challenges

1. Is your child scared of needles?
2. Has your child had a bad experience in a bloods clinic or health setting before?

What might help your child to feel settled or are there any other needs we need to consider?