Pathology Result Issues across Leeds

The laboratory at Leeds Teaching Hospitals trust (LTHT), which processes & reports on all the bloods tests taken across Leeds, had a system upgrade on or around 1st December 2024. Unfortunately, there has been significant IT issues with the upgrade which has impacted processing and reporting on blood tests.

The issues have caused:

1. Some blood test results have been delayed in being sent back to the practice
2. Some blood test results were returned in an incorrect format which takes considerable time to review
3. Some blood samples have been lost or have been discarded due to delays at the Lab but practices haven’t been informed which samples have been thrown away. Therefore, we may not be aware of every patient who could have been affected.
4. There may be staggered delays within a set of tests, meaning reports may not be complete. E.g. a result may be marked as ‘normal’, and this communicated to the patient, but further test elements are yet to arrive (and may be ‘abnormal’).

This has been a problem across Leeds with every GP practice having to do additional work trying to locate test results etc. We are facing a significant extra workload caused by this issue which is entirely outside our control. Our preferred way for patients to know that their test results are back, is by checking on the NHS App. You can see all your test results and your recent medical notes in the NHS App which is downloadable from app stores if you do not already have this.

If you had a blood test taken at the practice more than 4 weeks ago and there are no results showing online, please let us know via our online service.

West Yorkshire ICB, Leeds Local Medical Committee (which represents GPs) and Leeds Teaching Hospitals Trust are working together to resolve the issues. However, Practices across Leeds feel the upgrade has been poorly handled, resulting in delayed results and some lost samples which has meant patients having to be seen again for repeat tests.

Should you wish to convey your feelings to LTHT, you can contact the Patient Advice Liaison Service here.

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GP collective action - patient information

Following a ballot of its members, the British Medical Association confirmed that a period of GP collective action started on 1 August 2024.

Collective action is not the same as industrial action but means that some GPs may stop or reduce certain work.

The NHS is asking the public to continue to come forward as usual for care:
• If you have an appointment with your GP practice, you should attend as normal - unless told otherwise.
• Practices will still be open between 8am-6:30pm Monday-Friday, however some GPs may direct patients to other local services.

Practices will also continue to take into account the needs of the patient and the benefits of continuity of care. GPs may stop certain work but that would be targeted to not impact patients directly.

As always, patients can also use 111 online for health needs, and only use 999 in a serious or life-threatening emergency.

More information on when to call 999 and when to go to A&E is available via the NHS website.

Remember that your local pharmacist may also be able to offer treatment and prescription medicine for some conditions, without you needing to see a GP.

Conditions that pharmacists can treat as part of Pharmacy First are:
• earache (aged 1 to 17 years)
• impetigo (aged 1 year and over)
• infected insect bites (aged 1 year and over)
• shingles (aged 18 years and over)
• sinusitis (aged 12 years and over)
• sore throat (aged 5 years and over)
• urinary tract infections or UTIs (women aged 16 to 64 years)

If you go to a pharmacy with one of these conditions, the pharmacist will offer you advice, treatment or refer you to a GP or other healthcare professional if needed.

We want to help you get the right medical assistance when you’re ill, injured or have a long term condition. Going directly to the person with the appropriate skills is important. This can help you to a speedier recovery and makes sure all NHS services are run efficiently.