Chris Black raised the blood testing issue at Full Council tonight, and a little bit of discussion followed. Tory Leader Terry Cutmore said that “We’ve all got to save money” but added “I want to make sure that urgent cases are dealt with urgently, which I believe will still be the case…. People’s lives are important”
In the meantime the Echo are still running an online poll here At the moment 97% are saying that blood testing should stay local.
I’m not sure we know the full facts, if, as Terry says, urgent cases will still be dealt with promptly then there does not seem to be a problem. Not all blood tests have to be conducted within hours.
@Rayleigh Resident – Like you I don’t know the full facts but it seems to me that a two-tier systems for ‘standard’and ‘urgent’ tests is impractical and likely to more than offset any savings. You would need a duplicate local transport system, duplicate local testing systems (operating at higher unit cost because of lower volumes). On the face of it, this makes no sense and needs in depth review.
Admin. As this subject is now running under two headings, I am transferring this over.>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Where do INR (Wafarin Tests) fit into this as, due to coagulation, the blood must be tested within four hours of the sample being taken. Prick tests which give instant results are available at Southend Hospital but our local clinics do not have the equipment carry out this test. This means that samples must be delivered to the anticoagulant clinic within the short time span as currently there is no other option. As a sufferer requiring INR tests very regularly I am completely opposed to the proposals.
Where does the benefit of the savings here actually end up? Locally to be re-deployed on a priority which has a greater need? Without a full explanation of why there is not an adverse effect on local residents and the re-deployment of the savings I must say that I am opposed.