PATIENTS of Worcestershire GPs have been told all but the most urgent blood tests in the county have been suspended due to ‘logistical problems’ at a UK pharmaceutical company.

GP surgeries are cancelling all pre-booked appointments due to a nationwide ‘laboratory issue.’

A text sent to patients read: “IMPORTANT INFORMATION: Due to a nationwide laboratory issue, all Worcestershire practices have been instructed to immediately suspend almost all blood tests.

“As a result of this we will be cancelling any pre-booked blood test appointments. If you have a blood test booked, and have been told it is urgent, please contact the practice.”

The pharmaceutical company responsible for the blood testing equipment for Worcestershire’s GPs is Roche.

The company says it moved warehouses to a new national distribution centre last month and faced ‘a number of unforeseen issues which are delaying the dispatch of some products.’

Geoff Twist, general manager of Roche Diagnostics UK and Ireland, said: “The current issue with the dispatch of products in the UK has not and will not affect our commitment to supply Covid-19 tests.

“We are confident that the plans we have put in place will deliver significant improvements by the weekend to the supply of the tests affected by these logistical issues. We will be well on the way to resolution by the end of next week.

“In the meantime, we are working closely with the NHS in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, and the HSE in Ireland, to minimise the impact on critical services which rely on our products - including cancer, cardiac and infectious diseases.

“The supply of Roche medicines is continuing as normal.

“I would like to thank our partners within the NHS and HSE for working with us to keep providing vital diagnostic services to patients during this exceptionally challenging time.

“I would like to restate how deeply we regret the impact this has had and extend my personal apology to our customers.”

Have you had a blood test cancelled?