Blood test shortages

You may have seen in the news that there is global shortage of a vital ingredient (sodium citrate) used in bottles that we use to take blood samples. This has been particularly difficult for a manufacturer called Becton Dickinson that supplies a lot of the NHS laboratories, including Airedale and BRI.

The NHS have issued guidance to hospitals and GPs to limit blood tests to urgent clinical need only. This means we will need to cancel most routine monitoring. We are reviewing existing blood test appointments and will contact patients if their blood test is cancelled.

Also, if you have been asked by a hospital to go to your GP for a blood test you will need to contact the hospital to arrange the blood test with them.

The NHS guidance is that this will be reassessed in mid September.

Full details are here: https://www.england.nhs.uk/publication/becton-dickinson-blood-specimen-collection-portfolio-supply-disruption/