DESPITE assurances from the Government that the “NHS is safe in our hands”, there is a major problem in Wirral for people needing blood tests in local clinics. 

My wife is on Warfarin for a heart condition and needs frequent blood tests to ensure her INR levels are controlled to prevent heart attacks or strokes.

For several years, she has been getting this done at the clinic in Eastham, but now she is having to beg for an appointment and we have been forced to travel all over Wirral to get this essential testing done as the system appears to have broken down.  

They are trying to change the blood-sample-taking and subsequent lab testing to having a notoriously inaccurate finger-prick sample taken with an instant read out of Warfarin dosage in increase or decrease.

Due to the inaccuracy of this type of test, or possibly the interpretation by her practice nurse, my wife experienced a major blood clot resulting in long period of hospitalisation, severe pain and has lost the use of her right leg which may or may not be improved in the next twelve months or so as the nerve damage is repaired by exercise.

For this reason she, is unwilling to get the frequent testing done by this method but has just been advised by some jobsworth that from now on she will not be given another emergency appointment at Eastham for the blood test.

Brian Pritchard by email.