Patients thankful as blood tests return in town

Patients have been forced to travel several miles for blood tests at other sites instead of at the Bishop's Castle Medical Practice

A GP surgery has reinstated its blood testing service after weeks of uncertainty for patients.

Phlebotomy services had not been held at the Bishop's Castle Medical Practice in the Shropshire town since the end of June.

The practice made the announcement on Tuesday on its Facebook page and said the tests would restart immediately.

"Super news. Well done. A valuable service for the community," said one user commenting on the post.

The lack of a service had left patients having to travel several miles to Shrewsbury or Telford hospitals or a community diagnostics clinics in Telford or Whitchurch for the service.

The practice thanked patients for their understanding.

"We understand that this has been difficult and frustrating time," they said.

"We would also like to thank NHS Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin for working with us to find a solution that means we can provide this vital service from our practice."

The Facebook post was met with hundreds of positive reactions from locals.

"Well done all at the practice, this is really good news and will remove so much stress from so many patients. Thank you!" said one person in response.

Hundreds signed blood test petition

In May, Bishop's Castle Medical Practice announced that its phlebotomy service would be suspended because of a lack of funding.

Just 24 hours after the news, more than 800 people signed a petition against the move.

The service subsequently continued at the practice until late June through additional nurse clinics after negotiations with NHS Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin.

On 20 June, the surgery asked patients to attend hospitals or diagnostics clinics as a solution at that time had not been found.