Hundreds protest over blood tests cut

The blood tests service is due to end on 22 May

More than 800 people have signed a petition in just 24 hours, after a doctor's surgery said it would stop carrying out blood tests because of the cost.

Bishop's Castle Medical Practice said it would have to suspend the service because it did not get enough funding from the NHS to continue.

Patients have complained their alternative would be a 40-minute drive to Shrewsbury.

NHS Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin has apologised to patients and said it was working with the practice to explore options for continuing the service.

The medical practice said it planned to end blood tests from 22 May and in a statement said it was "aware this will be very unpopular with all our patients".

It also said: “Taking blood and processing it for delivery to the lab is not a core GP service for which we are paid" and it had approached the Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin Integrated Care Board for more funding, without success.

It said it had been forced to take the decision to "safeguard the future of the practice".

Vanessa Whatley, Interim Chief Nursing Officer for NHS Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin said: her organisation was "exploring every option" to see the service continue.