Health Minister Mike Nesbitt has been asked to intervene after it emerged Armagh’s ‘drive-through’ blood testing centre had been earmarked for closure.
The facility is due to cease on Monday, July 1.
But there have been 11th hour calls for the decision to be reversed.
Newry and Armagh SDLP MLA Justin McNulty has called on the Health Minister to “immediately reinstate” the facility.
He said: “I am extremely disappointed at the decision to close this vital and successful service, which attends to around 300 patients every week.
“In 2023, 15,000 people availed of the drive through blood testing service at St. Luke’s, and a significant portion of these patients are cancer patients who are immuno-compromised. Fears have been raised with me that if these patients now have to go back to Craigavon for bloods, they will be at increased risk of infection.
“This service cover all renal patients, diabetics, pre surgery bloods, and pre-CT scan bloods. If these bloods are not done in time, that inevitably delays scans, and therefore delays treatment, which only adds additional strain to already over-burdened waiting lists.
“Given that this service is resourced by permanent Trust staff, and the centre of operation is a Trust owned building, combined with the fact that the service caters only to Trust patients, I am at a loss to understand how the closure of this service will provide a cost-saving to the Trust or the Department.
“Removing the service doesn’t remove the need – these patients will still require blood testing services at alternative sites within the Trust.
“Elderly and vulnerable patients, as well as those with mobility challenges currently enjoy the ease of access that comes with a drive-through service. I am concerned as to where these patients will be redirected to, and whether they will still have the same access to the health services that they need following the closure of the service at St Luke’s.
“I have grave concerns about the unintended consequences of the decision to remove Armagh’s drive through blood testing service.
“I am in contact with the Health Minister and I am urging him to reverse this decision without delay.”
