Patients face retests after diabetes machine error

A BBC investigation found that at least 55,000 people in England could need further blood tests

About 200 patients in Norfolk and north Suffolk need retesting for diabetes after a machine error meant thousands nationally may have received inaccurate results.

A BBC investigation found at least 55,000 people in England could need further blood tests.

Some patients were wrongly diagnosed with type 2 diabetes and prescribed medication.

The Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust said it no longer operated the Trinity Biotech machines and many patients were known to be unaffected.

Executive managing director Tracey Bleakley said it was working with the NHS Norfolk and Waveney Integrated Care Board (ICB) to determine the number of patients who may have had an incorrect diagnosis.

"Our investigations have identified that many people have since had a routine retest and were not affected," she added.

"Approximately 200 primary care patients now require retesting, as many patients had already been retested through routine clinical care.

"We continue to work with the ICB and primary care colleagues to ensure this happens as quickly as possible."

The hospital trust was one of 16 in England who used the blood testing procedure.

NHS England had previously said anyone who needed a repeat test would be contacted by their GP or local hospital, and the risk was "low" for people who had been wrongly diagnosed.