Some GPs have had to stop giving routine blood tests for high blood pressure, heart disease and diabetes
Hospitals and GPs in England are being forced to ration blood tests as the NHS struggles to cope with a severe shortage of the plastic sample bottles that are then sent to a laboratory for analysis.
Some GP surgeries have stopped giving patients routine blood tests to assess the health of those with heart disease, high blood pressure and diabetes. In some places, GP practices have had to ring patients to tell them not to come in for pre-booked blood tests as a result of the problem.
