GPs and hospitals to limit blood tests in England due to bottle shortage

[helvella]

I know people have posted about this recently, but it is now obviously worse.

Although this is specifically about NHS England, I doubt that the other three nations are any better off.

Have just posted in Thyroid UK but then though that it is just as relevant here. And, most particularly, should raise a flag about any doctors misguidedly (or ignorantly) doing B12 tests for those on injections.

GPs and hospitals to limit blood tests in England due to bottle shortage

NHS says lack of plastic bottles for samples will worsen and last ‘for a significant period’

GPs have been told to stop performing most blood tests until mid-September, and hospitals to cut their number by 25%, as the NHS grapples with an acute shortage of sample bottles.

NHS England has ordered the unprecedented huge cut in blood testing because hospitals and GP surgeries have been hit with a severe and deepening shortage of the vials samples are put into.

The problem had already forced hospitals and GPs to start limiting the number of blood tests being carried out on patients.

But in new guidance issued on Thursday NHS England warned the shortage would get worse over the next few weeks and last for “a significant period”, which is believed may be months.

In the guidance letter it told GPs and hospital bosses that “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.”

Rest of article available without charge here:

theguardian.com/society/202...

[JGBH]

I really don’t understand why they are running out of plastic bottles used for blood tests. Any idea? What next? It’s rather odd or am I the only one to think so?

[helvella in reply to JGBH]

The NHS England documents blame one company.

They obviously don't blame the people who allowed such a domination of the market and failure to multiply-source vital products. Whether NHS management or political direction.

Becton Dickinson Blood Specimen Collection Portfolio – supply disruption

Document first published:

10 August 2021

Page updated:

26 August 2021

Topic:

Patient safety

Publication type:

Guidance

We have been notified of a supply disruption in relation to Becton Dickinson (BD) on their Blood Specimen Collection Portfolio. Details of the products impacted and the demand management measures in place are included in the Important Customer Notice, issued by NHS Supply Chain.

england.nhs.uk/publication/...

[JGBH in reply to helvella]

Thank you. It still does not explain why there is a production problem. Could this be due to the fact that workers making those sample bottles have left the UK to return to their home countries, like many lorry drivers which create a shortage of foodstuffs deliveries to supermarkets? It is a real concern.

[helvella in reply to JGBH]

It is very unclear what the actual cause is. Becton Dickinson have said it is a global issue and part of the cause is the huge demand caused by the pandemic. But there has not been a clear explanation so far as I can find.

It only affects two tubes:

1. 5mls Yellow top – SST 2 – clotted sample (e.g. U&E, LFTs etc)

2. Purple top – EDTA (e.g. FBC, HbA1c)

[JGBH in reply to helvella]

Thanks again. Of course it’s a global issue and the pandemic has put more pressure on every system of production and otherwise. These are the tubes I need mostly for blood tests, like many others.

[deniseinmilden in reply to JGBH]

From what I can gather it is a combination of factors, probably including Brexit too, that have seen demands go up while production, transport and supplies are all affected and so reducing units available.

Although separate, this seems to be a similar problem to the Roche one that caused similar problems earlier in the year.

It seems to be a consequence of people's apathy from the pandemic allowing standards to slip when there's an excuse available.

Sorry - opinions coming - I'm slightly grumbly about the way things have gone, in that while it's good to recognise mental health issues and not belittle someone for having problems, instead of caving to them, it should be a case of realising that extra effort is required to find solutions. There was a lot of positive productivity that came from "stiff upper lip" and "make do and mend" rather than "make yourself feel better with a treat". Many people have lost their sense of satisfaction as reward from their own realistic achievements.

Thankfully there are still some very good, driven individuals who will come up with solutions to work around the problems and get things back on track before too long.

[deniseinmilden]

Thank you for this - and all your great contributions.

Life happened to throw me several chances yesterday so I happened to be sitting in a queue for a blood test - all arranged at the last minute - when I saw your post! I was very grateful for some luck to mean that I beat the problems for a change.

[Nackapan in reply to deniseinmilden]

Yes. The stars in the right place that day for you. I think it will get sorted hopefully sooner thsn anticipated.

I believe brexit affecting far more thsn people imagined.

I personally was saddened by the vote outcome.

Some different tough times ahead with more costs recouping billions spent on job retention schemes ect

Backbone of staffing issues on the front line abd in the whole chain of industry.

[deniseinmilden in reply to Nackapan]

I'm with you whole heartedly! X

[Silverfox2 in reply to Nackapan]

Yep, the negative effects of Brexit cannot be understated here imo. What with food shortages, and lack of staff for various occupations It's all come together to create the prefect storm. But people were warned and most seemed to choose to ignore that sadly.

[JGBH in reply to deniseinmilden]

Pleased you got your blood test done yesterday! Let’s hope the problems will be resolved soon…

[FlipperTD]

Scientist, not medic, but experienced phlebotomist too. I have also worked with the manufacturers on supply contracts, but it's a long time ago.

We hear about BD tube shortages. There are other suppliers, such as Greiner, who make a range of tubes that are interchangeable with BD, but of course there won't be anything like the capacity to switch between brands. Greiner tubes come in from the EU too. A German company, Sarstedt, make a competitive range [Monovette] and whilst they do the same job they're not interchangeable for a wide range of reasons. They're a fine range of products.

Hospitals [well, Pathology Laboratories] specialise in using one, or the other style of tubes, and are therefore committed to either the BD/Greiner model, or Monovette.

There is little doubt that some Pathology tests are over-requested, but controlling the request rate has always been difficult. The hospitals are now reaping the whirlwind from this over-requesting, and now they're trying their best to reduce the overload on the system. Good luck with that, folks!

It will settle down soon, I'm sure, but cutting down on repeat requesting of B12 levels when on treatment will be a start. Requesting Vitamin D levels when we're virtually all deficient is another one to consider.

Let's just hope that they don't start to run out of needles, because blood collection needles aren't the same as injection needles.

[helvella in reply to FlipperTD]

vitamind.org/ use a simple blood spot approach to vitamin D testing. Ideal for mail order and avoiding collection issues including tube usage. 😀

[pitney]

Thank you