Please see the FAQ's for information about bringing a child for a blood test, including details about the use of numbing creams. 

If you can't make your paediatric appointment- please cancel it to help other parents. You can cancel using the booking links below, or- if it's less than 24 hours to go- please call us using the contacts at the side of this page.

Please note appointments are for routine blood tests only. For urgent blood tests the requesting clinician will contact the FHFT paediatric team.

Paediatric blood test sites are provided by Frimley Health - https://www.swiftqueue.co.uk/fhftpaeds.php

• How should you prepare a child for attending?

Make sure you bring the printed form your doctor gave you.

Make sure they keep warm and drink plenty of fluids (water only if it's a fasting test). If you / the child are anxious, you can apply local anaesthetic / Emla cream or its equivalent to both inner elbows 90 minutes before the test; please see information about this below.

• What should an adult patient do before attending?

Please drink plenty of fluids (water only if you were advised to fast) and keep warm.

Bring the form you were given by your doctor if required. 

• Should I book a paediatric (10 and under) or a 10+ appointment for a 10 year old?

Either is fine! If your 10 year old is nervous, a paediatric appointment may be best- but book whichever appointment suits you and the child. 

• Information on the use of numbing creams for children

It is recommended that any child over 1 month of age is to be offered a local anaesthetic cream prior to their procedure. This helps to reduce pain caused by the insertion of the needle. Your GP can prescribe anaesthetic cream, or you can buy it over the counter at a pharmacy.

The places suggested to take blood or cannulate include the back of both hands and inside both elbows (antecubital fossa). The healthcare professional taking the blood will select the best site when your child is in the blood test centre.

The local anaesthetic should be applied to all four areas: back of both hands and the creases of both elbows, prior to the procedure.

It may be necessary to apply the cream to the top of the feet if there have been difficulties obtaining blood in the past. We recommend that you do not leave the cream on for longer than the suggested time as this gives no further benefit. Cream should NOT be applied to broken skin or wounds, or if the child has active eczema.

Please do not let your child lick the cream. If this happens, encourage them to drink plenty of water and call 111 if you are concerned that they have swallowed a large amount.

Approved creams application times

Where and how to apply the cream

1. Apply a pea-sized amount of cream to the back of both hands and inside of the elbow in the crease. DO NOT RUB IN.
2. Cover with the dressing supplied. If you do not have a dressing, wrap 3 layers of cling film around the areas, ensure the cream is covered.
3. See table above for the suggested time the cream needs to be in place. Please do this before coming to the hospital as it will delay other patients if applied at appointment time, and you may be asked to re-book.
4. After the suggested application time, your nurse will remove the dressing and cream and will locate the best spot to take blood or insert cannula.
5. Cream should not be left on for longer that the stated time as this can cause irritation and will have no benefit to the procedure.
6. The areas will remain numb for up to 4 hours.