Blood test - alternatives to needles?

AndreaP
AndreaP Online Community Member Posts: 1 Listener
edited April 2017 in Families and carers
I have just spoken to someone at Scope who I am afraid were not too helpful.  My son needs blood tests and he is traumatised by nurses and needles.  I have heard that there are other ways of obtaining blood from disabled adults but can't find any more about it in our area (Yorkshire) Has anyone any ideas?

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  • Alex
    Alex Scope Posts: 1,281 Pioneering
    edited May 2017
    Hi @AndreaP,

    I've not heard of this before - I've had a good search online, and there are a few posts about needle alternatives for diabetics, but nothing for blood tests.

    Great Ormond Street have an excellent page about fear of needles here:

    For example you can get pain relief:
    We routinely offer pain relief to children having an injection/blood test, either as a local anaesthetic cream or a spray. They both work by numbing the surface of the skin so the needle does not hurt as much when it is inserted, although your child may still feel the needle going in.

    I also wonder if there are any alternatives to going in to get the test (for example - having someone come to you house) - that might help make the experience less traumatic?

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