Reduction of blood tests due to shortage of tubes

[McPammy]

Yesterday I read in the BBC news that a women had been refused her thyroid bloods test along with a cholesterol test due to shortages in England and Wales of blood test tubes.

Has anyone been refused recently. I also read the situation will get worse and will continue for months, which is very concerning for thyroid sufferers as all we can go on is blood results as it’s all about biochemistry

They were saying it’s due to Brexit border rules and also a higher demand due to coronavirus. I wonder if this issue is anywhere else in the world or is it just our NHS and it’s pathetic supply chain.

[tattybogle]

it not just UK , other countries like US too. (someone on here yesterday).

I don't know for certain obviously, but i think its a combination of global supply chains for raw materials being still cocked up due to pandemic, plus Brexit making it harder to get stuff in to UK . (plus i assume lots of manufacturing capacity being redirected into making stuff related to vaccine production ? )... all at once.

Sound's like they are seriously worried about not having enough for emergencies if they don't limit use for the next few weeks , and after that they don't sound confident they will be able to get hold of their usual quantity for quite a while .. so it sound more like global raw materials and manufacturing capacity to me, rather than just NHS having rubbish contracts/distribution networks.

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Considering NHS rarely offers enough testing, and thousands have to test privately…..situation unchanged for many members

Perhaps GP’s will be forced to accept private test results

[grauntieannie in reply to SlowDragon]

Yes, mine does, thankfully.

[lola1956]

My doctor had advised I book for second week September to check bloods for thyroid and vitamins but when I tried this week to book ahead with surgery reception she told me nothing until end of October but to try the hospital maybe they had something but probably not , when I asked the reason she said Covid but didn’t explain further ! But then I was told after recently being diagnosed with gall bladder problem will not be operating until another two years !

Consultant actually said hopefully if your brought in by ambulance in pain you will receive a removal of gall bladder quicker !

Could this be an NHS problem rather than brexit /Covid ??

[lola1956]

Yes I agree totally with you , the whole thing is crumbling and I too have done some medical appointments in the private sector as I was so ill and I wasn’t getting anywhere with NHS also five years ago I started to go private with a dentist he has been brilliant but I’m not rich so I struggle if I need a lot of treatment! I suspect privatisation is not far away unless more money is ploughed into the system … god help us as I remember my mother telling me how awful it was before NHS and her baby sister died because they had no money to pay for treatment 😞

[Silverfox2 in reply to lola1956]

I truly fear for my future as I have multiple medical conditions and If I had to seat paying I'd be bankcrupt pretty quickly. Not that the government cares as they've slowly pushing privatisation onto us for years now. Thanks Tories!

[lola1956 in reply to Silverfox2]

I too have many health conditions and I’m very worried about the situation that we are now in

[yesilkedi]

Explains why my doctor was trying to get me to go.for counselling rather than a blood test. Thankfully I have one booked for September 6th, it's very concerning though.