PATIENTS in Wyre Forest have been told they will no longer be able to have blood tests at their local doctor's surgery.

GP practices across Worcestershire are cancelling all pre-booked appointments due to a nationwide "laboratory issue".

A text sent to patients reads: "IMPORTANT INFORMATION: Due to a nationwide laboratory issue, all Worcestershire practices have been instructed to immediately suspend almost all blood tests.

"As a result of this we will be cancelling any pre-booked blood test appointments. If you have a blood test booked, and have been told it is urgent, please contact the practice."

Stourport, Kidderminster and Bewdley Medical Centres posted earlier today (Thursday) to confirm the laboratories where it sends all of its blood tests to be analysed have been affected.

The Facebook posts read: "You may have seen in the national media that Roche Diagnostics have a major issue with their supply chain after moving warehouses.

"The laboratories where we send all of our blood tests to be analysed use Roche reagents, and those laboratories have been advised to expect disruption to continue for at least two to three weeks.

"Therefore, unfortunately we are now in a position where we have to cancel all non-urgent blood tests.

"We have also been asked not to request any further blood tests for at least the next two to three weeks unless clinically urgent.

"We would like to apologise for the inconvenience caused to all our patients, however this is out of our control and due to a national supply issue affecting our local hospitals and laboratories.

"If you have a blood test already booked that we need to cancel then please be assured that the Surgery will contact you as soon as possible, but please bear with us as we have an excessive amount of patients to contact.

"Can we please request that you do not contact the surgery regarding this issue as this is likely to place too high demand on our telephone system.

"We thank you for your help and understanding during this difficult situation."