Mobile blood tests are at shopping centre

More than 900 people have had kidney blood tests at a shopping mall’s mobile unit to ease the pressure on hospitals.

Lewisham Shopping Centre began the project in April after an inquiry for space from ward Councillor Pat Codd, and now operate inside the service deck at the centre every Tuesday morning.

The opening times for the NHS and the elderly at its M&S and Sainsbury’s stores, as well as the Rainbows for the NHS campaign.

Centre director Paul Redden said: “We are pleased to have been able to welcome the mobile blood testing clinics.

“The initiative has been a success so far, with hundreds of patients helped and we’re looking to potentially make the mobile testing clinics a permanent addition at the centre in the future.”

Dr Kate Bramham at Kings’ College Hospital Foundation Trust said: “We cannot thank Lewisham Shopping Centre enough for allowing the Blood Vans to be on site over the last few months.

“They’ve been a real lifeline for our patients throughout lockdown and have undoubtedly saved lives by allowing people to feel safe enough to attend blood tests.

“Everyone I have spoken to about the mobile service have made a particular point of saying how lovely the team are, and how convenient it is to have blood taken close to home. Since reopening in June, Lewisham Shopping Centre has introduced safety measures including hand sanitiser points throughout the centre, a one way system and floor stickers for social distancing and a queuing system for entry to the centre.”

Pictured: Two members of the mobile blood testing team