NHS shortage: Blood tests cancelled across south east London

This comes after a new alert from NHS England to GPs and health services across the country as the nationwide shortage of blood collection tubes became "critical."

Blood tests and screenings have been cancelled across south London due to the shortage and the British Medical Association said the crisis has "put doctors and in a terrible position" of having chose which patients get tests.

The Bromley GP Alliance posted on Friday evening that all blood testing has been stopped aside from those "clinically urgent" due a lack of blood tubes which are used to administer the tests.

Patients who have a booked appointment for a routine blood test with BGPA should still attend unless they are advised otherwise, but the bookling line for routine appointments has been closed until further notice.

An NHS alert was sent out this week to all trusts and GPs warning of a shortage - PA

NHS England said the shortage of blood collection tubes was likely to get worse before it gets better.

South East London CCG said a supplier to the NHS had advised them of a global shortage of the equipment.

The new changes are designed to stretch out existing supplies, coming into effect immediately and likely lasting until at least 17 September.

Anyone who needs a test for urgent health problems will still be able to get a blood test, but where it is safe to do so clinicians will be recommending to most people to come back at a later date.

The CCG said: "Given the nature of the shortage, we cannot give an exact date for when the test will be rescheduled, but please be assured that if your condition or symptoms require it, then you will get a test, and the NHS will be re-booking your test when supplies become more easily available.

"If your condition or symptoms change or get worse, please contact the NHS as you would normally."

In an alert to the service NHS England’s medical director Steve Powis said: “The supply position remains constrained and is forecasted to become even more constrained over the coming weeks. While it is anticipated that the position will improve from the middle of September, overall supply is likely to remain challenging for a significant period.

“The following measures should be applied across the NHS in England, all commissioned services and by independent providers of NHS services in England, regardless of which blood tube products they use.”

He added: “All primary care and community testing must be halted until 17 September 2021, except for clinically urgent testing. Acute and mental health trusts must reduce their demand by a minimum of 25 per cent for the three-week period up to 17 September 2021

NHS England and NHS Supply Chain, which handles equipment ordering for the NHS at a national level, has been trying to control stock levels since the start of the crisis but there is growing concern the shortage could get worse before it improves.

The British Medical Association's deputy council chair, Dr David Wrigley, sad: “We are still no closer to understanding how this situation was able to develop; why there wasn’t a contingency plan; and what happens if - despite NHS England’s efforts to avoid this - GP surgeries and hospitals do run out of blood tubes before 17 September.

“It’s not unreasonable to question that there must have been a time when NHS England and the government knew that blood tube supplies were running low, and therefore, to now ask, ‘Why has nothing been done to mitigate that?’

“In the meantime, patients who need a range of blood tests may now face cancellations, or at best a delay with those tests and this is a huge concern.

"Blood tests are a fundamental part of patient care, giving us essential insights into different conditions, warning signs, and overall health. If they can’t be done or are delayed, then the quality of patient care is under threat.

“Patients need to have clear information about the scale of the problem, the impact it may have on them and what’s being done to keep them safe. That needs to come from NHS England and very soon.”

A Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson said: “Patient safety is a top priority and we are working closely with NHS England, the devolved administrations, and NHS Supply Chain to minimise any impact on patient care.

“The health and care system continues to work flat out with the supplier and stakeholders to put mitigations in place, and restore normal supply, and there continues to be stock in place.”