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Original poster

No routine blood tests for the foreseeable future

77 replies

WishIWasSomewhereElse · 27/08/2021 10:49

I take Lithium, and need blood tests every three months to check for toxicity from it.

My last blood test was eight months ago, and I only got it when the pharmacist contacted the surgery, as I couldn't talk to a GP due to the pandemic and the receptionist refused to book without GP's approval.

I phoned today as I am well, well overdue. I've been told that all blood tests are suspended except for serious issues, including all routine tests, such as monitoring. Lithium toxicity comes under monitoring and as such is not required.

I've been told I probably won't get one until at least October, but probably significantly longer, as they don't know when they will start again and then they will prioritise others first.

Googling tells me there is a shortage of blood bottles and that is hampered by border controls etc. Even hospitals have been told not to do routine bloods.

I can't help but think how catastrophic this is going to be.

OP posts:
Biolo · 27/08/2021 11:13

I work in a medical lab and we are trying to introduce new blood bottles from a different supplier - we are currently validating them for testing.
The lavender and gold tops are going to run out very soon. Actually, there’s all kinds of supply chain problems at the moment for other medical products too, it’s a nightmare and we are struggling to do our work.
I don’t think it was a clever idea to have one supplier providing blood bottles globally.

GiantKitten · 27/08/2021 11:16

There’s only one supplier??? Shock
I was amazed to read about the shortage but that explains it. Total madness Angry

Goofers · 27/08/2021 11:17

@Biolo this is frightening to read. Does it affect day 21 progesterone tests do you know?

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General health
OliverBabish · 27/08/2021 11:19

I know that the last time this happened (late last year I think? Maybe the middle of last year) that at first, we were told our lithium patients were not priority but then they back-peddled on that very quickly because lithium toxicity is serious. Fingers crossed sensible heads prevail OP

LashesZ · 27/08/2021 11:19

I work in healthcare in an outpatient setting. We have had to surrender all of our blood bottles to a central stock in the main hospital for emergency departments. They told us it would be around November time that we could resume routine bloods.

PatchworkElmer · 27/08/2021 11:22

I hope they get it sorted! I’m having monthly bloods done at the moment as am taking isotretinoin. Didn’t have an issue last month and I was able to book online for next month, so hopefully I’ll be ok. I’m not sure what would happen if I didn’t have the tests done, as my prescription is generated on a monthly basis and only if my bloods are ok? Confused

fuckingsickofcovid · 27/08/2021 15:51

Yeah, I got this text earlier

No routine blood tests for the foreseeable future
No routine blood tests for the foreseeable future
HolidayHelpWelp · 27/08/2021 16:12

I work in a community role and we are on the bare bones of blood bottles. Only absolute emergency bloods are to be taken, anything else is being put on a spread sheet and at some point they will try and catch up. It’s crazy!

Gladioli23 · 27/08/2021 16:13

My understanding is that there isn't only a single supplier of bottles, but that all hospitals are being asked to limit non-emergency testing so that they can utilise their stocks to support the rest of the NHS with their emergency testing -as different hospitals will have had different levels of stock before this all started.

Crunchymum · 27/08/2021 17:21

I have blood tests every 10-12 weeks (to monitor medication). I'm not due until early October but I just logged in and seem to be able to book appointments for next week? There was lots of availability for next week.

DominicRaabsTravelAgent · 27/08/2021 17:26

Really can't believe there's only one supplier. My DH has had a test for thyroxine this week and needs to rebook in 8 weeks. Hopefully it will be sorted by then.

I've heard there's also a shortage of pipes for ventilators, which could be more serious.

SexTrainGlue · 27/08/2021 17:28

They are prioritising things like haematology patients (where the blood disorders could kill the patient) and cancer treatment monitoring (where the toxicity of the drugs is such that the patient could suffer significant harm, worst case death)

It's a shit situation

Trisolaris · 27/08/2021 17:32

I have a blood test tomorrow for hba1c - really hope it goes ahead as I haven’t had one at the hospital for about 2 years now cos covid and the GPs have done one in that time but won’t send the results through to the hospital. . .

CorrBlimeyGG · 27/08/2021 17:39

@Goofers I understand your test is important to you, but surely you understand that it's not a priority in comparison to potentially life threatening conditions/ indicators?

Ajl46 · 27/08/2021 17:46

@Trisolaris

I have a blood test tomorrow for hba1c - really hope it goes ahead as I haven’t had one at the hospital for about 2 years now cos covid and the GPs have done one in that time but won’t send the results through to the hospital. . .
I have this issue in reverse - hospital order bloods inc HBA1c & don't routinely send through to my GP, who therefore orders repeat tests which is so wasteful. I literally (sometimes, not always) have to ask for a print out of my results at the hospital then take it to my GP. Thinking about this the other way around, I can access all my GP test results via my GP's online portal. If you have access like that, could you print them out then send it to the hospital directly? It's such a pain!
Trisolaris · 27/08/2021 17:49

@Ajl46 I have just told them results over the phone and they get my libre readings so they have been mostly satisfied with that until I can get there.

Hardchoices · 27/08/2021 17:52

[quote CorrBlimeyGG]@Goofers I understand your test is important to you, but surely you understand that it's not a priority in comparison to potentially life threatening conditions/ indicators?[/quote]
I totally agree. A few months delay will not affect you in terms of fertility. I’ve suffered from infertility so know how important all these tests are but please don’t consider your concern as frightening. Cancer, haematology, paediatric, diabetic patients etc should be frightened. Not you.

SnowyMouse · 27/08/2021 18:10

I had blood tests for clozapine today, nothing was said about rescheduling. Should I be worried?

36degrees · 27/08/2021 18:15

As well as there only being a single supplier of bottles, these bottles are of a specific shape to fit in with automated systems, machinery, robots, labels, lids etc so the whole system relies on a very specific design. I hope procurement and logistics teams are reviewing other systems across the NHS to ensure we don't have them fall down like bloods.

Goofers · 28/08/2021 02:02

Thank you for your delightfully supportive messages, @CorrBlimeyGG and @Hardchoices, even more so on a parenting website. Actually the reason I need the blood test is because I am spotting for a week before my period arrives and they think it could be something serious, given my other and previous health conditions.

For what it’s worth, (but not actually related to this medical concern as such), I am 40 next month so “a few months’ delay” could in fact be very significant when it comes to trying for a baby, @HardChoices. Who on earth do you think you are to make such a sweeping statement, anyway?

Absolutely no need for those posts, either of you. You should be ashamed.

ClumpingBambooIsALie · 28/08/2021 02:07

I had my annual diabetes review on Wednesday and they took three tubes of blood out of me — I mentioned the blood tube shortage at the time but they took them anyway. That was just before the ban on routine tests, so I guess I got lucky there. But this doesn't look good for my hopes of going back on lithium… worrying times for us all.

me4real · 28/08/2021 02:15

This seems really wrong OP (depending on when you last had bloods.) I'm on bipolar meds and have been told to have bloods done by my GP. Haven't had them done for a while but that was just because it didn't come up. Are you under a consultant? If so their place will probably be open for bloods.

Gothichouse40 · 28/08/2021 03:17

I was told I will only get a thyroid blood test every two years now. I think I will end up paying for private tests.

Haywirecity · 28/08/2021 03:32

A couple of my family members have had their routine bloods done. And one of them has had them done three times this year alone. On the hands, she can't get hold of a macdonalds milkshake anywhere. Strange times.

endofthelinefinally · 28/08/2021 03:47

Sorry for my ignorance as I haven't read about this. What is the cause of this? Is it geography? Manufacturing materials/ process? Transport?
I know the supermarket supplies problem is lack of drivers.