‘Borderline critical’ stock leads to new blood test restrictions

Local NHS organisations are increasing their efforts to conserve ubiquitous blood collection products amid concerns current measures are not working and stocks may run even lower. There is also a concern in east London that the message to reduce routine tests is not being heeded, with GPs not cutting back enough. 

However, this week the British Medical Association raised concerns over suspending routine tests, including “NHS Health Checks, monitoring of quality of care, and medication reviews”.

The union said: “It would also be unreasonable to ask healthcare staff to simply delay these tests until a later date — not only for the sake of our patients, but also the entire system, which is already tackling an enormous backlog of care.”

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Source: HSJ, 25 August 2021