‘Major risk’ associated with bloods outsourcing – LUH meeting

A “major clinical risk” associated with the outsourcing of GP bloods was discussed by management at Letterkenny University Hospital (LUH) last year.

Since March 2024, some 5.5 per cent of GP blood samples have been outsourced due to lack of capacity in LUH’s pathology department.

The issue of bloods outsourcing was discussed at a hospital management team (HMT) meeting in February 2025. According to the meeting minutes, Hospital Manager Mr Sean Murphy enquired “if the gastro team asks the GP to monitor the bloods for their clinics they cannot see the blood results then on the hospital system”.

Following “further discussion”, Dr Gerry O’Dowd, Associate Clinical Director of the cancer and pathology managed clinical and academic networks, said that “this is a major clinical risk associated with this exercise of outsourcing the bloods for testing”.

In June 2024, the HMT meeting minutes noted that the outsourcing of blood samples was leading to “gaps in laboratory records of some patients as these results are not available to LIS [laboratory information system]”. The minutes were obtained under Freedom of Information law.

In response to queries from the Medical Independent, a HSE West and North West spokesperson did not provide comment on the referenced clinical risk.

LUH processes blood tests for inpatients, outpatients, and the community (GPs and Enhanced Community Care programmes). The number of processed tests almost doubled from 2019 to 2025. Due to the volume of requests internally and from GPs, there is a need to increase capacity in the blood science department.

“LUH management and the pathology service management have been working with HSE estates and procurement over recent years to try to secure a solution to allow these samples to be processed in-house.”

In order to progress a proposed extension, a strategic health infrastructure framework alignment form has been completed. The pathology department is also included in the hospital’s new development control plan, which is being drafted.