PATIENTS could soon be able to do their weekly shop, grab a sandwich and then get a blood test as services move from hospitals to shopping centres.

Hospitals across south Essex have announced plans to move blood tests to town centres in a bid to drive footfall and ease pressure on hospitals.

In Southend, blood testing would move to the ground floor of the Victoria Shopping Centre in mid-April, with patients boosted by longer hours and reduced waiting times.

The facility would provide urgent, routine adult appointments and a paediatric service offering routine and urgent blood tests.

Blood tests in Basildon would move from the hospital to the Eastgate Shopping Centre from late May.

It is hoped the move will reduce the number of people in the hospitals, free up space to keep patients and staff safe and give hospitals flexibility if they have to once again respond to a spike in infection.

Bosses say it could draw more shoppers to the town, giving town centres a well-needed boost in the wake of Covid-19.

Carol Bootle, who had a blood test at Basildon Hospital on Monday, says the scheme is one that would benefit a lot of patients –but is urging bosses to make sure the service is near disabled parking.

The 66-year-old from Pitsea, said: “I have to have blood tests quite often, and there are a couple of places you can try but it can be hard to get an appointment.

“So I do think having this facility in the town would be a good thing, you could get your shopping if you get their early, or vice versa, get a coffee, go to the chemist, whatever bits you need to get.

“But it has to be somewhere near parking areas, I’m disabled so can’t walk very far. If you have that nearby and there’s enough spaces, I don’t see any issues.”

During the pandemic, Southend Hospital temporarily moved blood tests to Fair Havens Hospice in a bid to free up space at the hospital.

Trevor Harp, councillor for health and adult social care in Southend, hopes the latest plans will be better suited to all residents.

He said: “I think the parking charges in the town are actually lower which is fantastic, and if it is based in somewhere like the Victoria Shopping Centre or Eastgate it is closer to all the major bus routes, train stations and taxi ranks.

“It will mean people can also pop in, grab a meal deal, a drink, go to the bank or do their shopping, and I think the new Southend site is planned to hopefully be slightly bigger than the facilities we have at the moment.

“It just becomes more convenient for patients and should definitely increase footfall in the area - every little helps with bringing people back to the high street.”

Limited phlebotomy services are set to remain in each of the hospitals for urgent same-day bleeds.

Mr Harp, added: "We are pleased to be working with our health partners on their proposals to transfer the Phlebotomy services from Southend Hospital to The Victoria shopping centre, which will offer patients a more convenient and accessible site for urgent and routine blood tests. 

"In addition, the new service will be available over seven days a week and have longer operating hours, which will improve access to appointments and also reducing waiting times.”

Ian Clark, manager at Eastgate, said: “The team are very much looking forward to welcoming the NHS to our shopping centre.

“People popping in for a routine blood test appointment will be able to do a bit of shopping as well, perhaps stop for a drink and a bite to eat, and, lockdown restrictions permitting, meet up with friends and family.

“Eastgate was already evolving into much more than retail. We expect that trend to continue as town centres change and become much more varied in what people want to visit for and to do whilst they are here.”