Welcome to Hunter Gatherer Primary Care – phlebotomist recruitment across the UK.
We place phlebotomists into GP practices, Primary Care Networks and community health services on both a locum and permanent basis. Whether you’re a practice that needs a phlebotomist to run morning blood clinics or a phlebotomist looking for flexible work near you, we’ll make the match quickly and get you sorted with minimal fuss.
What is a Phlebotomist?
A phlebotomist is a trained healthcare professional specialising in venepuncture – the safe and accurate collection of blood samples from patients for laboratory analysis. In primary care, phlebotomists are a fundamental part of the clinical support team, running dedicated blood clinics that enable faster diagnosis, treatment monitoring and chronic disease management without placing additional demands on GPs and practice nurses.
In GP surgeries and PCNs, a skilled phlebotomist who can work autonomously and handle a high volume of patients efficiently is genuinely valuable. Demand is consistent across the country and practices with reliable phlebotomy cover see real benefits in patient flow and clinical capacity.
Why Practices Choose Hunter Gatherer for Phlebotomist Recruitment:
- Properly vetted, not just available Every phlebotomist we place has their training, competency records and DBS verified before we send their name to a practice. We don’t send you someone who’s available and hope for the best.
- Primary care experience prioritised GP surgery phlebotomy is different to hospital outpatient work. We prioritise candidates with primary care experience who understand the pace, the systems, and the expectations of a busy practice.
- Locum and permanent placements Need cover for a holiday fortnight or looking to hire permanently? We support both, with the same attention to matching and compliance.
- Fast and low-friction Phlebotomy is a support role – you shouldn’t have to wait weeks to fill it. When you contact us, we respond quickly and aim to have options in front of you the same day where possible.
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What Phlebotomists Do in Primary Care:
Phlebotomists in GP surgeries and PCNs typically carry out:
- Venepuncture – taking blood samples from adults and, where trained, paediatric patients
- Preparing and labelling specimens correctly for laboratory dispatch
- Running dedicated morning blood clinics, often autonomously
- Managing patient flow through the clinic – booking, calling, and reassuring anxious patients
- Infection control and safe disposal of sharps and clinical waste
- Documenting procedures accurately on the practice clinical system (EMIS, SystmOne, Vision)
- Some phlebotomists also support wider HCA duties including blood pressure monitoring, ECGs and health check support – depending on their training and the practice’s requirements
Phlebotomy Settings We Cover:
- GP Surgeries – in-house blood clinics, often running daily or several mornings per week
- Primary Care Networks – PCN-wide phlebotomy services supporting multiple practices
- Community Diagnostic Centres – extended access blood collection services
- Extended Access Hubs – evening and weekend phlebotomy sessions at hub sites
- Home Visit Phlebotomy – housebound patient blood collection, increasingly commissioned through PCNs
- Private GP Clinics – private practice blood testing services.
Qualifications and Training We Look For:
Phlebotomists don’t require formal registration with a regulatory body, but we look for the following before placing anyone:
- Completion of an accredited phlebotomy training course (City & Guilds, IBMS, or NHS Trust-approved programme)
- Demonstrated competency in venepuncture, confirmed by a signed-off record from a previous employer or training provider
- Valid enhanced DBS certificate (update service preferred)
- Up-to-date mandatory training – infection control, basic life support, health and safety
- Previous experience in a GP surgery or primary care setting is strongly preferred for most of our roles
- For paediatric phlebotomy, specific paediatric venepuncture competency is required
Phlebotomists with additional clinical skills – blood pressure, ECG, health checks – are particularly sought after in primary care.
Locum Phlebotomist Opportunities:
Locum phlebotomy work in GP surgeries offers flexible hours, straightforward shifts and the opportunity to work across different practices and PCNs. Whether you want a few regular morning sessions per week or something more substantial, we’ll find opportunities that match your availability and your location.
We have active phlebotomist requirements across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland – including London, Manchester, Birmingham, Leeds, Bristol, Cardiff, Glasgow and beyond.
Phlebotomist Pay Rates (2025/26):
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Locum Phlebotomists£14 £22 per hour. Rates vary by location, experience, skill set and urgency. London and South East practices typically offer higher rates. Phlebotomists with additional clinical competencies – ECG, blood pressure, health checks – are often able to command higher rates as they can support a wider clinical remit.
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Salaried PhlebotomistsSalaried phlebotomist roles in NHS general practice and community settings typically sit at NHS Agenda for Change Band 2 (£24,465 for 2025/26) or Band 3 (£24,937–£26,598). Roles that involve a broader clinical support remit — such as HCA/phlebotomist combined roles — may sit at the higher end of Band 3.
Career Development for Phlebotomists:
Phlebotomy is often an entry point into a broader clinical career in primary care. Many phlebotomists go on to develop additional skills and move into more senior roles:
- HCA/Phlebotomist combined roles – adding blood pressure, ECG, health checks and chronic disease support to the phlebotomy role
- Senior Phlebotomist / Blood Sciences Technician – leading phlebotomy teams, quality assurance, training junior staff
- Nursing Associate (Band 4) – for those who want to take their clinical career further via the apprenticeship route
- Medical Laboratory Assistant (MLA) – moving into the laboratory side of blood sciences
- Registered Nurse – longer study route for those who want full clinical registration
We support phlebotomists at every stage and can help you find roles that develop your skills, not just fill a shift.
Frequently Asked Questions:
- Do phlebotomists need to be registered with a regulatory body? No – unlike nurses or radiographers, phlebotomists in the UK are not required to hold regulatory registration. However, you must have completed accredited phlebotomy training, hold a current competency record and have a valid enhanced DBS. We verify all of these before any placement.
- Can you provide phlebotomy cover at short notice? Yes. Once a phlebotomist is registered and compliant with us, we can fill short-notice shifts quickly. Contact us directly for urgent requirements – we aim to respond same day.
- Do you place phlebotomists with paediatric venepuncture experience? Yes. Some GP surgeries and community services require phlebotomists who can take blood from children. We confirm paediatric competency specifically during registration. If this is a requirement for your practice, let us know upfront.
- Can phlebotomists also provide wider HCA support? Many of our phlebotomists have additional clinical competencies – blood pressure monitoring, ECGs, health checks – and can support a broader HCA remit alongside phlebotomy. If your practice needs this, we can filter our matching accordingly.
- What areas do you cover? We place phlebotomists across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland – including London, Manchester, Birmingham, Leeds, Bristol, Glasgow, Edinburgh, Cardiff and beyond.
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