Supplier of NHS blood tube supplier ramps up imports following shortage announcement

The supplier of blood test vials for the NHS, Becton Dickinson, is ramping up imports in an attempt to alleviate serious shortages of test tubes.

The firm said that it had received “exceptional use authorisation” from authorities in the UK to import blood tubes that are already approved for use in other countries, such as the US, adding that it had increased production capacity in the UK by 20 per cent.

Doctors have been told to hold off on most blood tests until 17^th September, while hospitals have had to cut the total number of tests by 25 per cent.

A spokesperson from the Department of Health and Social Care said “We have secured tens of millions of additional blood tubes, including importing additional supplies from the EU and the US, which will be available to the NHS soon and there continues to be stock in place to ensure clinically urgent testing continues.

“Patient safety is always the top priority and we continue work closely with NHS England, the devoted administrations, and the NHS to minimise any impact on patient care.”

Dr David Wrigley, deputy care of the British Medical Association, warned that the crisis had put doctors and patients in a terrible, unenviable position.

Dr Wrigley went on to say “No doctor knowingly undertakes unnecessary blood tests and to now have to ration all those we are doing, as well as cancel hundreds more, goes against everything we stand for as clinicians.”

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Posted by Karen Motley, Clinical Negligence Department, Chadwick Lawrence LLP (tonymay@chadlaw.co.uk ), medical negligence lawyers and clinical negligence solicitors in Huddersfield, Leeds, Wakefield and Halifax, West Yorkshire.

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