Guides
Guides on having blood taken, making blood draws accessible, and working as a phlebotomist in the UK.
Having Blood Taken
How to Prepare for a Blood Test
What to check before a blood draw: fasting, water, what to wear, what to tell the phlebotomist, and ways to cope with needle anxiety.
Can You Eat Before a Blood Test?
Most blood tests do not need fasting. Which ones usually do, what you can drink, and what to do if you ate by mistake.
What Happens During a Blood Test? Step by Step
A clear, step-by-step guide to what happens during a blood test, from identification to needle insertion, sample collection and aftercare.
Needle Phobia and Blood Tests: Coping Strategies
Practical ways to manage fear of needles before, during and after a blood draw, from distraction and breathing to telling the phlebotomist.
Your Child's First Blood Test: A Parent's Guide
A practical guide for parents preparing a child for a blood test: what to say at different ages, distraction, positions and what to expect on the day.
Phlebotomy vs Venepuncture: What's the Difference?
These two terms are often used interchangeably, but they have distinct meanings. Learn the difference between phlebotomy and venepuncture, and who performs each procedure.
Accessibility
Blood Draws for Patients with Disabilities: Reasonable Adjustments
Adjustments that make blood draws easier for people with physical disabilities, learning disabilities, sensory impairments and autistic people.
Blood Draws in Care Homes: A Guide for Managers
How care homes can organise blood draws on site: coordinating with GPs, grouping visits, and consent for residents who may lack capacity.
Phlebotomist Careers
What is a DBS Check for Phlebotomists?
What a DBS check is, which level phlebotomists are usually asked for, how an application works, and how Lola Dispatch reviews DBS certificates.
How to Become a Phlebotomist in the UK
An outline of how people become phlebotomists in the UK: what the role involves, entry requirements, training routes and where the career can lead.
Phlebotomist Job Description: Duties, Skills & Requirements
What a phlebotomist does day to day, the skills and qualifications employers look for, and what mobile roles add.
Phlebotomy Jobs with No Experience: Where to Start
Practical advice for getting into phlebotomy with no prior experience: training, DBS checks, building experience and a portfolio.
HCA to Phlebotomist: How to Make the Switch
For healthcare assistants moving into phlebotomy: transferable skills, the training you need, and ways to gain experience.
Phlebotomist CV Template & Writing Guide (UK)
How to write a phlebotomist CV: structure, personal statement, key skills, work experience and common mistakes to avoid.
Phlebotomist Cover Letter Examples (UK)
Three cover letter examples for hospital, private clinic and mobile phlebotomy roles, with structure guidance and common mistakes to avoid.
20 Phlebotomy Interview Questions & Answers
20 common phlebotomy interview questions with guidance on answering them, covering clinical knowledge, patient care, professionalism and situational scenarios.
Phlebotomy Career Progression: Where Can It Lead?
The usual steps within phlebotomy, moves into nursing, laboratory work and management, and areas phlebotomists specialise in.
From Phlebotomist to Nurse: Career Transition Guide
For phlebotomists considering nursing: transferable skills, degree routes, where to look for funding, and working while studying.
Is Phlebotomy a Good Career? An Honest Look
The upsides of phlebotomy as a career (quick entry, flexibility, meaningful work), the downsides (limited progression without retraining, physical and emotional demands), and who it suits.
Booking blood draws for your patients?
Lola Dispatch is an invitation-only platform healthcare businesses use to book mobile blood draws with approved phlebotomists. It does not take bookings from the public.