Health Facilitation Service

Supporting people who have a learning disability to give a blood sample

Giving a blood sample is a common procedure that worries lots of people, including those who have a learning disability.

People who have a learning disability often have health conditions or may take medicines that require their doctors to ask them to have blood test more often.

Sometimes the person who has a learning disability does not understand why the blood sample is being sought and lacks the capacity to consent to this procedure.

Some people who have a learning disability find it difficult to co-operate with the taking of blood samples.

The Health Facilitation Service recognises the important role that blood samples have in helping people maintain healthy lives.

The Health Facilitation Service has experience in supporting families, carers and health professionals to gain blood samples from people who have a learning disability and the Health Facilitation Service can offer help.