Disruption to testing services in south east London
Members of the Unite union who work at Synnovis are planning to strike on 16-20 December (inclusive). Synnovis provides pathology testing services - eg. blood and urine tests - to GP practices, hospitals and other NHS services across south east London.
This action is expected to have an impact on local NHS services where pathology testing is an important part of the clinical care being provided. Synnovis has requested agreement from unions about the essential services to be protected from strike action.
All healthcare partners are working hard to make sure that essential pathology services can be provided to allow urgent, emergency and essential patient care to continue on strike days. However, to help safely manage the impact of the strikes, it may be necessary to postpone a number of non-urgent appointments, including blood tests, and hospital procedures scheduled on strike days.
If you have an appointment with a GP practice, hospital or other clinic, please make sure you go to it unless you are told not to.
If appointments or treatments need to be cancelled, you will be contacted. Please do not contact your GP, hospital or clinic to check as you will be advised on how your appointment will be rescheduled.
We recognise the concern and frustration that this strike action will cause, and thank you for your understanding.
More information will follow as it becomes available.
For walk-in clinics
Walk-in clinic – urgent blood tests only
Due to industrial action, blood testing services in south east London are severely disrupted.
This clinic is for urgent blood tests only.
Please note:
- You may have to wait to be seen – please be patient.
- It is possible that test results will be delayed.
- If your test cannot be processed in time, because of lack of testing staff, you may be asked to come back and give another sample.
Please help us help you. Only come into the clinic if your blood test is urgent.
Thank you for your help.
For primary care
Industrial action – testing services (blood, urine, other samples)
Due to industrial action, testing services in south east London are severely disrupted.
As a result, we have to cancel and rearrange some appointments.
Urgent tests
There is a very limited service available for urgent tests.
If you do need an urgent blood test, we will explain to you how we can arrange that.
We know how difficult and frustrating this is. Thank you for your understanding and support.