The laboratory at Leeds Teaching Hospitals trust (LTHT), which processes & reports on all the bloods tests taken across Leeds, had a system upgrade in early December 2024.
Due to problems with this upgrade:
- Some blood test results have been delayed in being sent back to the practice
- Some blood test results were sent to us in an incorrect format: so will take us longer to review back in the practice
- Some blood samples have been lost or have been discarded due to delays in processing which means they will have to be repeated
- There may be staggered delays within a set of tests, meaning reports may not be representative. For example, a result may be marked as ‘normal’, and this be communicated to the patient, but further test elements are yet to arrive (and may be ‘abnormal’).
This has been a problem across Leeds with every GP practice having to do a lot of extra work, checking and so on. At Dr Taylor and partners, we are facing a significant extra workload caused by this issue which is entirely outside our control. Please be assured that we are working through the extra work steadily and we will be in touch with patients as and when necessary.
Our preferred way for patients to know that their test results are back / and are normal, is by checking on the NHS App or SystmOne online. You can see all your test results and your recent medical notes in the NHS App. If you attended for a blood test, arranged by the practice, between 3rd December 2024 and 31.1.25 and there are no results showing on the NHS App or you have not been informed by the surgery please contact us. You can submit an online form (you can find this on our website shaftesbury-churchview.co.uk), if you do not have online access please contact our reception team after 4 pm Monday to Friday.
West Yorkshire ICB, Leeds Local Medical Committee (which represents GPs) and Leeds Teaching Hospitals Trust are working together to resolve the issues. However, Leeds General Practice feels this system upgrade has been poorly handled, resulting in a lot of extra work for practices at our busiest time of year.
We understand that this may cause frustration or concern, and we sincerely apologise for any inconvenience caused. This is beyond the Practice’s control and if you have been affected and wish to escalate your concerns, please convey your feelings to LTHT by contacting the patient Advice liaison Service here or contact the Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS) by e-mail at patientexperience.leedsth@nhs.net Tel: 0113 2066261 or post: Patient Experience Department Trust Headquarters, St James’s Hospital, Leeds, LS9 7TF.
Thank you for your ongoing support.
