Recurring concern
Failure to provide timely clinically required blood tests
Pin
Get email alerts
Request correctionFirst reported 25 Jul 2014•Latest report 7 Feb 2026
What this concern includes
Includes failures to arrange, collect, process or complete clinically required blood tests promptly, including delays occurring overnight, in emergency care or in prison healthcare, where the blood-testing delay can impair diagnosis, monitoring or treatment.
Not included
- Excludes non-blood diagnostic investigations, such as ECGs, imaging or urine tests, unless the assertion also specifically identifies a deficient blood-testing control.
- Excludes failures to communicate or act on blood-test results when the blood test itself was completed and made available on time.
- Excludes generic laboratory, staffing or communication deficiencies unless they directly cause delayed, omitted or unavailable clinically required blood tests.
- Excludes routine blood tests where no clinically required timeframe or safety consequence is identified.
- Reports
- 22
- Individual concerns
- 23
- Date range
- 2014–2026
- Stated actions
- 16
Distinct published reports
A report can raise multiple concerns
First to latest report issue date
Described in published responses
Reports over time
Reports over time
Reports about this concern issued each year.
* 2026 is projected from reports observed to 7 Sep 2026.
Most frequent recipients
Most frequent recipients
Reports about this concern sent to each recipient.
Concerns and responses across reports
Only concerns grouped under this recurring concern are included. Select any concern, action or position to view the source wording.
-
Concerns raised1
Failure to obtain repeat blood tests for clinical comparison
This report raised 11 other concerns. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Responses linked to these concernsEach statement is shown once, even when linked to more than one concern.
No linked response statementsNo respondent-stated action or position is linked to these concerns in the published data.
-
Concerns raised1
Lack of a reminder system for required venous blood gas measurements
This report raised 2 other concerns. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Responses linked to these concernsEach statement is shown once, even when linked to more than one concern.
Respondent positions A position is what a respondent says about the concern when they do not describe a specific action.1
-
Position
Existing handover and clinical monitoring systems are considered sufficient; a blanket venous blood gas reminder cannot accommodate individual clinical judgment.
Stated by Dorset County Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
-
Concerns raised1
Lack of timely on-site emergency laboratory testing and results
This report raised 14 other concerns. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Responses linked to these concernsEach statement is shown once, even when linked to more than one concern.
Respondent positions A position is what a respondent says about the concern when they do not describe a specific action.3
-
Position
The existing laboratory network and urgent courier arrangements are considered sufficient, with no evidence they reduce blood-test requests or breach processing requirements.
Stated by Queen Victoria Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
-
Position
NHS Improvement, NHS England, and the Care Quality Commission, working with the Trust and commissioners, were responsible for ensuring appropriate action.
Stated by Department of Health and Social Care -
Position
Pre-operative assessment considers suitability for surgery based on available facilities, while the laboratory agreement requires urgent specimens to be processed within one hour.
Stated by Care Quality Commission
-
Concerns raised1
Delays in observations and blood tests when potential infection is present
This report raised 2 other concerns. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Responses linked to these concernsEach statement is shown once, even when linked to more than one concern.
No linked response statementsNo respondent-stated action or position is linked to these concerns in the published data.
-
Concerns raised1
Failure to undertake requested liver function tests when clinically required
This report raised 2 other concerns. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Responses linked to these concernsEach statement is shown once, even when linked to more than one concern.
Actions described in response An action is something a respondent says it has done, is doing, or plans to do in response to the concern raised.1
-
Action
Remind medical staff to undertake clinically justified tests and discuss provider-declined investigations with the ordering consultant.
Stated by Hywel Dda University LHB
-
Concerns raised1
Delays in testing blood samples from prisoners
This report raised 1 other concern. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Responses linked to these concernsEach statement is shown once, even when linked to more than one concern.
Actions described in response An action is something a respondent says it has done, is doing, or plans to do in response to the concern raised.2
-
Action
Conduct required blood tests promptly, using same-day testing where possible and a short waiting list when same-day testing is unavailable.
Stated by Care UK -
Action
Send blood samples to the hospital laboratory each afternoon on the day they are taken.
Stated by Care UK
Respondent positions A position is what a respondent says about the concern when they do not describe a specific action.1
-
Position
The delayed blood test would not have affected Mr Stead’s death or resulted in different treatment.
Stated by Care UK
-
Concerns raised1
Unmonitored over-anticoagulation following omitted delegated INR testing
This report raised 2 other concerns. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Responses linked to these concernsEach statement is shown once, even when linked to more than one concern.
No linked response statementsNo respondent-stated action or position is linked to these concerns in the published data.
-
Concerns raised1
Failure to complete requested blood tests
This report raised 18 other concerns. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Responses linked to these concernsEach statement is shown once, even when linked to more than one concern.
No linked response statementsNo respondent-stated action or position is linked to these concerns in the published data.
-
Concerns raised1
Failure to expedite urgent blood test samples for laboratory analysis
This report raised 2 other concerns. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Responses linked to these concernsEach statement is shown once, even when linked to more than one concern.
Actions described in response An action is something a respondent says it has done, is doing, or plans to do in response to the concern raised.2
-
Action
Review primary-care urgent-sample requesting processes and prepare a memorandum covering sample labelling, transport and laboratory notification.
Stated by Betsi Cadwaladr University LHB -
Action
Distribute the urgent-sample process memorandum electronically to all BCUHB-supported GPs and practice managers.
Stated by Betsi Cadwaladr University LHB
-
Concerns raised2
Delays in repeating arterial blood gas tests
Failure to repeat blood tests within the required timeframe
This report raised 5 other concerns. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Responses linked to these concernsEach statement is shown once, even when linked to more than one concern.
No linked response statementsNo respondent-stated action or position is linked to these concerns in the published data.
Data last updated 7 September 2026