THE Alexandra Hospital has apologised for turning people who needed blood tests away on Monday.

Around 15 people were waiting to give blood at the hospital when staff called in sick and the service could not be run.

However blood tests could continue in the hospital's wards for patients where there was staff to cover.

And the people turned away who needed blood tests were referred back to their GPs or clinics.

The spokesman for the hospital also said a normal service had been resumed yesterday.