Lack of vials hits patient blood tests
The Royal United Hospital in Bath is asking local primary care centres to stop all nonessential blood tests amid a national shortage of vials.
The hospital sent a letter to primary care facilities to request that all blood tests for health checks, preventative medicine and routine monitoring be suspended.
There is a global shortage of blood test tubes due to supply disruption with essential pieces of kit made by American medical supplies manufacturer Becton Dickinson.
The letter to GP practices asks that blood tests only be ordered if “the patient is clinically unwell”.
The letter is signed by Dr Moya O’doherty, a consultant chemical pathologist and metabolic medicine at the Royal United Hospital Bath NHS Foundation Trust.
It says that “urgent action is required” amid the “critical national shortage of blood tube supplies”. It continues: “Since the last communication unfortunately the national situation with blood tube supplies has worsened.
“We have seen a 6 per cent reduction in the volume of RUH GP tests but we are now having to ask that all non-essential blood tests are not requested.
“We are aiming for a more than 50 per cent reduction. Please only order a blood test if the patient is clinically unwell. Please urgently action this message.
“We are now asking that all health checks, preventative medicine blood checks and routine monitoring is suspended.
“Other practices in our neighbouring CCG’S have sent test alerts out to all patients and cancelled all pre-booked appointments.”
NHS England issued guidance on August 10 warning of supply issues, recommending actions for medical directors, nursing directors, GPS and pathology laboratories to optimise the resources.
The guidance says to reduce the ‘non-essential (non-clinically urgent) testing of patients.’
It goes on to recommend that Vitamin D testing is stopped and ‘routine wellness screening’ is not a priority. Allergy testing is also not a priority unless there are “overriding clinical indications”.
It also says that routine infertility testing should be “deferred until a resolution to the supply disruption is in place with the exception of patients over 35 years of age.
A Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson said: “Patient safety and continuity of care is our priority and we are working to ensure there is minimal possible impact on patient care.
“The health and care system is working closely with Becton Dickinson to put mitigations in place to resolve any problems if they arise.”
A spokesman for the Royal United Hospital said: “This is a national issue affecting trusts throughout the country.
“Patient welfare is always our utmost priority, so to manage our supplies and prioritise blood tubes for the most seriously ill, we have taken the decision to temporarily postpone non-essential, nonurgent blood tests.
“This decision is in line with national guidelines.
“We will continue to carry out any blood tests that are clinically urgent.”