Warehouse failure leads to delay in patient access to vital NHS tests

The Swiss pharmaceutical firm Roche has said logistical difficulties with the move to a new warehouse has led to a “very significant” reduction in its processing capacity.

Although a spokesperson has said that tests for Covid-19 would be prioritised, it is feared that the backlog could affect other tests, including those for heart disease and cancer, and one NHS trust in the south west has advised its GPs to cancel all non-urgent blood tests.

In a statement, Roche has said “We deeply regret that there has been a delay in the dispatch of some products. We are prioritising the dispatch of Covid-19 PCR (diagnostic) and antibody tests and doing everything we can to ensure there is no impact on the supply of these to the NHS.”

The statement did not comment on the impact of other specific tests, including for liver, thyroid and kidney function, infection and sepsis.

In a letter sent to NHS trusts, Roche said “In September, we moved from our old warehouse to a new automated warehouse capable of much higher volumes.

“However, during the transition, we encountered some unforeseen issues and a very significant drop in our processing capacity. Since then we have worked around the clock to prioritise and manage orders as well as increase this capacity.”

A spokesperson from the NHS said “Roche has alerted hospitals to an issue with their supply chain, and they will be working urgently to resolve this issue.”

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Posted by Karen Motley, Clinical Negligence Department, Chadwick Lawrence LLP (tonymay@chadlaw.co.uk ), medical negligence lawyers and clinical negligence solicitors in Huddersfield, Leeds, Wakefield and Halifax, West Yorkshire.

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