About Community Phlebotomy

The Community Phlebotomy Service is a new Northamptonshire primary care-led service that will transfer a significant proportion of routine blood taking activity from hospital settings into general practice. The service has been developed following UHN's decision to cease GP-requested phlebotomy services from 31 January 2027.

The service will be delivered through a Lead Contractor model, supported by Northamptonshire's GP Federations and participating practices. Implementation will take place in phases between November 2026 and January 2027, with full countywide coverage expected from 1 February 2027.

This page provides practices with the latest information, guidance, training resources, reporting requirements and supporting documentation relating to the service. It will be updated regularly throughout mobilisation and implementation.

Reporting, Claims and Payment

This section explains how practices will submit activity, meet reporting requirements and receive payment for services delivered under the Community Phlebotomy Service.

Claim Submission Deadlines

Practices are responsible for ensuring that activity returns are submitted in accordance with the agreed monthly timetable.

The Community Phlebotomy Contract requires activity to be claimed and reported within specific contractual reporting windows. As a result:

    • Activity should be submitted within the reporting month allocated to that activity.
    • Practices should not delay submission until a later month.
    • Practices should ensure returns are checked carefully before submission.

Practices should be aware that retrospective claims are not permitted under the contract.

Activity that is not submitted within the agreed reporting cycle will not be eligible for payment and will not be capable of being included in a future claim.

Federations will communicate the detailed claims and reporting process directly with the practices they support, including submission requirements, deadlines, payment arrangements and local points of contact.

How to go about it?

Practices wishing to participate in the Community Phlebotomy Service should:

    • Confirm their intention to participate to their Federation and provide the date from which they will commence delivery of additional activity.
    • Complete any information requests issued by their Federation to support mobilisation, workforce planning, training and implementation.
    • Notify the ICB of their implementation date by emailing northantsicb.primarycareteam@nhs.net
    • Ensure that any required workforce training, competency sign-off and local implementation arrangements are in place before accepting additional activity.

Full countywide coverage is expected by 1 February 2027.

Who do I contact?

For questions about the Community Phlebotomy Service, please contact your Federation in the first instance.

Your Federation can support with:

    • Participation and mobilisation
    • Claims and reporting processes
    • Operational queries and support

Where required, your Federation will escalate queries to the Lead Contractor or ICB on your behalf.

Resources and guidance