A TRADE union is calling for a public review of plans to centralise the analysis of blood samples in one location.

Currently the work is done at Blackpool Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust; East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust; Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust; and University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS Foundation Trust.

But Unite wants a wider consultation on the scheme being considered by the Lancashire and South Cumbria Pathology Collaboration before any changes.

Its call came as its blood analyst members started industrial action at the East Lancashire Trust over a pay and regrading dispute.

A total of 21 biomedical scientists analyse patient blood samples at the Royal Blackburn and the Burnley General Teaching Hospitals will stop working night, weekend and late shifts for a month from May 7 until June 4.

Unite regional officer Keith Hutson said 1,500 staff could be affected by any wider reorganisation.

He said: “What we have here is the biggest shake-up of pathology services in the region for decades and it is being slipped through under the radar without proper public scrutiny and without consultation with the NHS professionals who would have to implement these changes.

“This is not a clinically-led decision, but one based on the prospect of privatisation of the new centre, currently earmarked for Samlesbury.

“The lack of public consultation is breath-taking in its arrogance as even the region’s GPs have not been informed of the implications for patients.

“Unite is calling for the fullest consultation by NHS bosses of the public’s views and those of healthcare staff."