BLOOD testing is to stay local in south Essex after a long fought campaign.

Two hundred staff at the pathology department at Southend Hospital were given the news they’d been hoping for since it was announced in December that GP requested pathology services were to move 90 miles away.

Community Pathology Services (CPS) were named the preferred bidder to run analysis of blood, stool and other specimen samples.

This would have meant our tests being transported by road to Bedford but now the Echo has learned the service will remain at Southend and Basildon hospitals.

Neither hospital would comment until the paperwork is signed, but a senior pathologist at Southend said it was official enough to be announced to all 200 staff.

 

The consultant, who did not want to be named, said: “There is a verbal agreement to sub contract with CPS and the hospitals so that community pathology can continue to be provided locally in a three year contract from April 2014 to 2017.

The pathologist added: “The Echo did a fantastic job of bringing it to the public’s attention.”

It is understood Southend and Basildon will act as a south Essex non urgent hub like Bedford, Luton and Dunstable, West Herts Hospitals and Princess Alexandra in Harlow.

 

 

A spokeswoman for Southend Hospital said: "Nothing has been formally agreed yet and we are unable to comment until it has.”