Town's patients asked to travel for blood tests

More than 800 people signed a petition in May to keep phlebotomy (blood testing) services in Bishop's Castle

Patients in Bishop's Castle, Shropshire, are being asked to travel further afield for blood tests after a way to keep the service in the town failed to materialise.

In May, hundreds signed a petition after Bishop's Castle Medical Practice announced it would stop carrying out blood tests because of the cost.

Following negotiations with NHS Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin, the practice continued to provide the service temporarily through additional nurse clinics, until Tuesday.

On Monday, the NHS confirmed patients would need to attend either Shrewsbury or Telford hospitals, or community diagnostics clinics in Telford or Whitchurch.

"Despite numerous options being explored between the practice and NHS Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin, we are still in the process of finding a long-term solution for the phlebotomy service at Bishop’s Castle Medical Practice," the local NHS said.

It thanked the public for their patience, and reiterated that people having further to travel was a temporary measure.

A statement on the Bishop's Castle Medical Practice website dated 20 June said a suitable resolution had not been found, and also asked patients to attend hospitals or diagnostics clinics.

"This is not a decision we wanted to make, and we are aware of the impact that this will have on many of our patients," it said.

"However, we cannot continue to offer additional services that are not appropriately funded and potentially jeopardise our ability to offer our core contracted services."

It added that complaints should be directed to NHS Shropshire, Telford & Wrekin, and not to its receptionists.