PNE to host drive-thru clinic to help some of the city's most vulnerable patients during lockdown

The initiative will ensure that vulnerable patients receiving anticoagulant treatment can be tested without leaving the safety of their vehicle.

It means those who would normally attend a busy out-patient clinic to monitor their warfarin levels will no longer need to risk their health by venturing outside.

Lancashire Teaching Hospitals said the new service is an example of how "innovative methods" are being introduced to ensure the city's most vulnerable can continue to access services while maintaining their isolation during the Covid-19 pandemic.

How does it work?

Patients will attend the drive through to have their INR (International Normalised Ratio) test on their blood.

Once tested, from the comfort and isolation of their vehicle, patients can leave safe in the knowledge that their current treatment plan is satisfactory and, if the results are abnormal, direct intervention can be made.

The clinic will be available each week on the club’s Sir Tom Finney car park and patients eligible to attend the clinic will be notified.

Martin Myers, consultant clinical biochemist at Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, said: "Firstly, I would also like to extend my thanks to Preston North End Football Club for their fantastic support during these uncertain times.

"After conversations with our anti-coagulation nurse, Rachel Wilkinson, and our lead biomedical scientist in haematology, Steve Hambridge, on how to support our vulnerable patients, we came up with the idea of setting up a pop-up drive through INR testing service using hand held point of care testing devices.

"Named patients are invited to these mobile clinics and given a timed slot for testing.

"The patient drives through our diagnostic clinic and we take a single blood drop from the patient’s finger and measure their INR while they wait.

"This new service is part of our Laboratory Anywhere approach to diagnostic testing, where, for certain patients, we take the laboratory to the patient."

Ben Rhodes, head of communications at Preston North End, added: "Preston North End are proud to be able to support the NHS again by providing the Sir Tom Finney car park and foyer to be used for this testing facility.

"With the Invincibles Pavilion's lounges already in use for training relating to COVID-19, this is another way we can assist with the ongoing crisis and are delighted to provide the ability for this important work to continue amidst the issues."