An update from our colleagues at Shropshire, Telford & Wrekin Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG)

5 October 2021

Routine blood tests for patients in Shropshire and Telford & Wrekin have resumed as the shortage of blood test tubes has eased.

Work is now taking place to clear the backlog of non-urgent blood tests which were paused on NHS England (NHSE) guidance.

Patients who are already waiting for blood tests can now book routine appointments, but please be aware that there will be an extended wait while the backlog of appointments is worked through.

For appointments at SaTH, there is currently a 4-6 week wait for a routine blood test.

Please contact the service that cancelled your previous routine appointment, either your GP Practice or SaTH, to re-book your appointment.

The online booking system for blood tests carried out at SaTH has also reopened. It is available at www.sath.nhs.uk/bloodtests. Please do not book for an urgent blood test unless your form says that it is urgent as you might not be seen.

Blood tests for urgent health problems have continued while routine tests were paused.

NHSE has advised that the blood test tube shortage situation has eased but is not fully resolved. Local restoration arrangements will be kept under review.