Plans to stop blood test services at two hospitals 'could put lives at risk'

Video report by ITV News Meridian's Joe Coshan

Plans to remove blood test services at two hospitals in Kent have been criticised by patients who say it could put lives at risk.

From the November 1, regional health commissioners are making changes so that anyone requiring blood samples in Herne Bay and Deal, will have to go to a GP surgery instead.

However, one man with incurable prostate cancer, who relies on regular tests to monitor his chemotherapy, is worried he will not be able to get an appointment.

Steve Gay said: "The trouble is if I don't book a test and they can't get my blood results then I can't have my chemotherapy.

"Although I'm being well-managed at the moment by fantastic staff, if I missed a cycle it could start spreading to other organs but because I'm having these blood tests it's prolonging my life dramatically.

"You can't book three weeks in advance, the nurses down there are stretched as it is, a cutback like this, I just think put your hands in your pockets and let's keep it."

The changes will see specialist nurses otherwise known as phlebotomists relocated elsewhere. Other patients have described as short-sighted.

Anne Matthews, Patient said: "Nurses in hospitals and surgeries have not been able to get my blood because it is very hard to find, so I need the skills of a phlebotomist to do that.

"If they weren't here, I'd have the worry and anxiety of going to a surgery and then trying three or four times to get it and still no result."

The NHS Kent and Medway Clinical Commissioning Group said in a statement: "There are changes to where blood tests are taken in Deal and Herne Bay for some patients.

"Blood tests are part of the routine care that all general practices provide and patients will continue to have local access to blood tests when needed.

"Historically, Kent Community Health NHS Foundation Trust has provided blood tests at Queen Victoria Memorial Hospital in Herne Bay and Victoria Hospital in Deal, which some GP practices have used for their patients.

"This arrangement is coming to a close and NHS Kent and Medway Clinical Commissioning Group is working with local GP practices to finalise where blood tests will be carried out in the future. This will be in existing hospitals sites or in their own practices.

"We are sorry it has not been possible to confirm the exact arrangements for each patient and for the anxiety this has caused. 

"We would like to reassure patients the change in this service will not affect their ability to have blood tests when they are needed and guarantee that blood tests will still be available locally.

"GP practices that are involved in the change will be communicating with patients to make sure they are aware of what they need to do, if anything, when the changeover happens."

However the practices where blood tests will be carried out are still being finalised.

Dr Jack Jacobs says very few GPs are happy with the changes.

"Whenever there is a sudden change in the service, it's clearly disturbing for GPs who care for those patients, particularly services we are dependent on but we are not contracted to do.

"I can understand why people are worried but hopefully there are plans in place to avoid a stop in that service."

Reassurances then from GPs that the changeover will be smooth, but patients say more needs to be done to alleviate their concerns when they say they were not consulted on the changes in the first place.