Changes to community blood testing services
Have you been told by a clinician that you need to have your blood tested, but don’t know where to go? There’s a range of places across Torbay and South Devon where you can have your blood taken for testing (called phlebotomy).
You can book an appointment at our outpatient departments at Torbay Hospital or Brixham Hospital. Bookable appointments are available Monday to Friday at Torbay Hospital from 8.30am to 5pm, and at Brixham Hospital from 9am to 1.20pm on Tuesdays and Fridays. Appointments are also available on Wednesdays at Paignton Health and Wellbeing Centre from 8.30am to 3.40pm. Please call our team to book an appointment: 01803 655544.
You can arrange an appointment at your local GP practice for your blood test however, if your GP surgery is one of the following, please arrange for your blood test at Torbay Hospital or at Brixham Hospital (if you live in that area).
- Albany Surgery
- Chilcote Surgery
- Corner Place Surgery
- Croft Hall Medical Practice
- Compass House Medical Centre
- Mayfield Medical Centre (all practices).
Please note that the Community Diagnostic Centre in Market Street, Torquay, no longer provides a walk-in phlebotomy service.
What women want from health services
Healthwatch England has shared new national insight on what women say matters most when using health services. The findings combine YouGov polling of 6,018 adults (including 3,069 women) and analysis of 32 local Healthwatch reports published in 2025 and bring together women’s experiences of care and their priorities for future services. The insights show that 15% of women say they never feel listened to, or are listened to less than half the time, during healthcare appointments, and 60% of women accessed at least one women’s health service in the past two years, most commonly cervical screening, breast screening, contraception advice or menopause support
Women identified several priorities for improving services, including:
- being listened to and having concerns taken seriously (64%)
- health professionals with training in women’s health (62%)
- access to multiple services in one place, such as women’s health hubs
- flexible appointment times, including evenings and weekends.
The Women’s Health Strategy for England, published in 2022, introduced a life‑course approach to improving women’s health and supported the development of women’s health hubs across NHS regions.
The government is now refreshing the strategy to address ongoing inequalities and improve access and outcomes. Healthwatch will share these findings with the government to help inform the next phase of the strategy and future development of women’s health services.
You can read the report here: What do women want from health services?