To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent assessment he has made of the availability of conditional test tubes for cancer labs; and if the NHS has now restarted all non-urgent cancer testing.
Answered on
6 December 2021
The supply of consumables used for cancer tests is constantly monitored. Shortages of blood collection tubes were experienced in August and September 2021 due to increased global demand resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic. Supply has now been restored and the National Health Service has restarted all non-urgent cancer testing which may have been impacted.
Answered by
Department of Health and Social Care