Councillors are to ask health chiefs to investigate the length of time patients have to wait for routine blood tests.

Speaking at the latest meeting of the county’s health scrutiny committee, Conservative Cllr Dee Hart said that patients in Broxbourne were now waiting three weeks for phlebotomy services.

She asked that the committee request the Hertfordshire and West Essex Integrated Care Board to investigate the service.

The committee chair, Cllr Rachel Carter, said an email would be sent to the ICB following the meeting.

placeholder image — Hertfordshire County Council

Raising the issue as “an urgent matter”, Conservative Cllr Dee Hart told members: “Residents in the borough of Broxbourne are now having to wait three weeks for a routine blood test.

“That’s absolutely appalling. I believe the average is normally a week, a week-and-a-half wait – across the county. But a three-week wait for phlebotomy is bordering on the totally unacceptable. So I am formally requesting that the ICB investigate this as a matter of urgency to try and improve the phlebotomy services within the borough of Broxbourne going forward.”

During the exchange, Conservative Cllr Richard Roberts echoed the concern and suggested that it could be an issue that was county-wide and wider than Broxbourne.

Following the meeting, a spokesperson for the Hertfordshire and West Essex Integrated Care Board acknowledged the increase in waiting times for blood tests at Cheshunt Community Hospital.

And they said they were already working to understand the reasons behind it. “Hertfordshire and West Essex ICB is aware of concerns about waiting times for blood test appointments at Cheshunt Community Hospital,” said a spokesperson for the Herts and West Essex ICB.

“The phlebotomy service in Cheshunt is delivered by Hertfordshire Community NHS Trust, and the current wait time for a routine blood test is around 21 days, up from an average of around 11 days in July. The ICB is working with HCT to understand the reasons behind this increase in routine wait times and to be assured about plans to reduce them.

“The ICB will continue to monitor the situation closely and work with partners to ensure patients have timely access to blood test services.

“Urgent blood tests can be carried out the same day, and routine appointments at Cheshunt Community Hospital do become available at shorter notice if other patients cancel.

“Patients who use the online SwiftQueue booking system are encouraged to check back regularly, as this can sometimes result in earlier appointment slots.”

The Hertfordshire Health Scrutiny Committee brings together councillors from the county, district and borough councils. Healthwatch is also represented.

Meanwhile, at the same meeting, Cllr Miriam Swainston highlighted the need for newly-built communities to have access to health facilities.

And she pointed to a financial “disconnect” between developers and the NHS in the provision of services.

“One thing that keeps coming up is that there seems to be a disconnect between what the district valuer for the NHS and ICB are willing to pay and what developers say they can afford to provide it for.

“I think that really needs looking at because it keeps coming up with different developers.

“Sometimes you think they are trying it on, but actually I think there is a problem.

“Obviously land values are high.

“It just needs looking at so we can get these new communities the facilities that they deserve.”

Following the meeting, a spokesperson for the Hertfordshire and West Essex ICB acknowledged that bringing forward affordable facilities could be challenging.

And they said they would welcome engagement with the county’s health scrutiny committee on this “important issue”.

“We’re active participants in the statutory planning process to make sure new housing developments include enough healthcare services, such as GP surgeries, to serve new and existing residents,” said the spokesperson for the Herts and Essex ICB.

“We work with developers and the local authority to bring forward facilities that are affordable for them and the NHS, but this can be challenging when land and development costs are high and public finances are constrained.

“Ultimately, meeting the health needs of local people is a priority, and the ICB welcomes engagement with the health scrutiny committee on this important issue.”