The NHS Gloucestershire Clinical Commissioning Group have announced changes to the blood testing services in South Cotswolds. In their press release from the 6th October, which can be read below, they outlined that GP surgeries are now providing blood testing services for patients. The South Cotswolds outpatient blood testing service on a drop-in basis is no longer being carried out due to Covid-19.
Concerns have been raised about the change in service with many patients finding accessibility to more rural locations for blood tests difficult.
Only hospital patients will now be able to obtain this service at Cirencester Hospital and concerns regarding capacity to reach demand remain. I always found the service at Cirencester hospital superb, the practitioners who took the blood were very quick and effective, even when the waiting room was full, it did not take long to be seen. Now each GP will have to provide this service and it remains to be seen how efficient and consistent this will be.
Constituents who have already been in touch with me regarding this have raised a number of issues with this new arrangement, including the ease of transport links to Cirencester compared to other rural locations to get their tests done. I fear this is not a resounding victory and I will continue to make representations to Gloucestershire CCG.
Additional documents below include an update I received on the 20 October and a letter from Mary Hutton, ICS Lead/Accountable Officer of NHS Gloucestershire CCG.