PATIENTS who would otherwise need to travel miles to take hospital ordered blood tests will be able to access it more locally.

Ruby Country Medical Group, which operates the medical centres at Stratton, Hatherleigh and Holsworthy where it provides GP services, had previously announced that it was to withdraw from offering blood tests ordered by hospitals in the area over sustainability concerns.

While the surgery at Stratton remains unaffected owing to the funding arrangements for that surgery arranged by NHS Kernow, bosses at the medical group said that from April 1, it would no longer offer any blood test ordered by the hospital as it was unsustainable to do so owing to the funding offered for the service by NHS Devon.

This meant that any patient of its two Devon based surgeries would potentially have to travel to hospitals further away to take their blood test as opposed to having it at their local GP surgery.

However, it has now been announced that phlebotomy clinics at three community hospitals will now be offered, enabling patients to access blood testing services closer to home.

From April 1, the clinics will be held at Torrington, Bideford and Holsworthy community hospitals by Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust.

A spokesperson for Ruby Country Medical Practice said: “Our colleagues at the Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust will now be providing more local community phlebotomy clinics for Devon patients whose hospital department have requested they have blood tests.

“The clinics will be held at Torrington, Bideford and Holsworthy Community Hospitals.

“From April 1, community phlebotomy clinics will be provided for our Devon patients in the following locations:· Bideford Community Hospital· Torrington Community Hospital· Holsworthy Community Hospital.

“For general enquiries, contact: [email protected]. If you have already been referred or need help with booking enquiries, please call: 01395 519 922.”