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 feel worrying or uncomfortable for children. To help us understand how best to support your child during their blood test, please read this information together and answer the questions that follow.

Planning your child’s appointment

By sharing information with the clinic nursing team before the appointment, we can make adjustments to better meet your child’s needs and help them feel more relaxed and supported during their blood test. The Clinic Nursing team will contact you prior to your appointment to ask you information including how your child communicates, sensory needs, previous blood test experiences, learning needs, cultural and (or) spiritual needs and their preferred pronouns. They may also ask if your child has a fear of needles which may heighten your child’s anxiety during their appointment.

Showing your child the easy read resources and videos before their appointment may help them understand what will happen during the blood test. Being prepared in advance can help your child feel more confident, reduce anxiety, and give them the best opportunity to engage positively with the procedure.

Desensitation

If your child has a fear of needles, has had a difficult experience with previous procedures, or has experienced trauma that may increase their anxiety about this appointment, please let the clinic nursing team know.

Where appropriate, our play therapist may contact you to offer support before the appointment. This may include opportunities for your child to visit the clinic, become familiar with the environment, and work together to develop an individualised plan to help make the blood test as positive and successful as possible.

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 experience increased sensory sensitivities that can make healthcare appointments, including blood tests, more challenging. If your child is sensitive to things such as noise, touch, bright lights, unfamiliar environments, or waiting with other people, please let the clinic nursing team know. Understanding your child’s individual needs will help us make appropriate adjustments and provide the best possible support during their appointment.

Things that can help

• Plan your appointment with the Clinic Nursing team
• 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 may benefit from desensitisation work and share this with the clinic nurse.
• Offer distractions using toys or digital devices

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. Are there any religious, spiritual, cultural or personal beliefs that may affect your child’s blood test or the care and support we provide? If yes, please tell us how we can support your child and family.

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. Does your child feel worried, anxious or frightened about needles?
2. Has your child previously had a difficult or upsetting experience during a blood test, injection, hospital visit, or other healthcare appointment?

If yes, please tell one of the clinic nurses what happened and how we can help make this appointment a more positive experience.