Frustrated patients have extended wait for blood collection in St. John's
Some people in St. John's who went for early blood collection services at two clinics expecting to beat the rush, were surprised and frustrated when staffing issues meant a two-hour wait instead.
Kathy Rowe arrived at the blood collection clinic on Major's Path shortly after 8 a.m.
While the clinic is usually a busy place, since it serves as the major blood collection location in the city, Rowe said she was surprised when she walked in and the place was packed with waiting people.
"I got out of my car at 8:15 and my husband said to me, 'Well, at least you're early, you'll probably beat the rush,'" said Rowe.
According to Rowe, a staff member told the waiting crowd there was an issue getting registration staff in that morning so patients couldn't be registered.
She said a doctor waiting to get blood work done advised the crowd to call Eastern Health's services line to file a complaint, and it was unacceptable that fasting seniors and other patients had to wait extra time to get blood taken.
Eastern Health President and CEO David Diamond told CBC News Tuesday the exceptional wait time was indeed due to a staffing issue.
Diamond said the permanent registration desk staff were on annual leave, and due to a scheduling mix-up, the temporary staff didn't come in until 8:10 a.m. instead of the usual 7 a.m.
"It was a difficult day, certainly the morning we had extraordinary waits for part of the morning, up to about two hours some people could have been waiting which is substantially more than our 30 minute wait," he said.
"We really apologize for that. That would have made for a very difficult day if you showed up at seven expecting you'd be in and out before your work day started."
A similar situation arose at the Waterford Hospital, where a staffing issue meant delays for patients waiting for blood collection early in the morning.
However, Diamond said that issue was resolved more quickly and by later that morning everything was operating smoothly.
