Posted 27th Jan 2025

We would like to update you on issues affecting blood tests at GP practices in Leeds and part of Bradford. 

The Pathology Service at Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust has recently implemented a new Laboratory Information Management System. 

This is a shared system across West Yorkshire which will provide a single, seamless solution for processing pathology testing for patients having blood tests. This will allow patient test results to be viewed by clinicians across the region, regardless of where a test was obtained, and ultimately deliver a better experience for patients.

This has been a large, complex transition. Leeds hospitals receive around 10 000 blood samples every day, and the majority of these samples have been processed as usual. However, during the transition they experienced some technical issues, which impacted some patients from Leeds and Bradford who had blood samples taken at their GP practices and community centres. The result of this was that some blood tests results were delayed or were not processed, and some were sent in a format which meant that GP practices could not file them into their systems. There are a large number of technical and clinical staff in the trust and in community teams who are actively working on addressing these issues as a priority. The main technical issues are now fully resolved, and the majority of outstanding blood results have been sent to practices.

 The Trust sincerely apologises to any patients and GP practice staff affected by this disruption.

 The preferred way for patients to know that their test results are available is by online services; checking on the NHS App or SystmOnline/Airmid. You can see all your test results and your recent medical notes in the NHS App.

 If you would like to raise a concern or provide feedback you are able to do so via the Patients Advice and Liaison Team at the Trust: https://www.leedsth.nhs.uk/patients/support/feedback-complaints/ 

Thank you.

Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust