NHS England has denied claims that blood tests have been cancelled because of a green policy restricting air-conditioning units. Reports earlier this week suggested that record summer temperatures had forced some GP surgeries to cancel appointments after blood samples degraded.
Blood samples must be stored at temperatures between 15C and 25C, and some practices have struggled to keep rooms cool enough. The NHS Net Zero Building Standard sets out ambitions to decarbonise the estate, including phasing out fossil fuels, and states that “mechanical cooling should be minimised as far as possible” to meet thermal comfort criteria and reduce energy demand.
Guidance and impact on patients
Guidance for GP practices advises exploring other cooling methods, such as windows and insulation. The Telegraph reported that heatwaves this summer have led to cancelled appointments because blood test tubes must be discarded if kept in hot conditions too long, with some patients being asked to provide new samples.
Official response
An NHS spokesperson said the claim is inaccurate and that NHS guidance does not restrict the use of air conditioning where it is needed for safe care. They added: “Where practices do not have the ability to maintain temperatures within the limits required for pathology equipment, NHS staff are doing all they can to limit the impact for patients and ensure any non-urgent blood tests that require rescheduling are done as soon as possible.”
The spokesperson also noted that many GP practices are owned by GPs, who decide whether fitting air conditioning is appropriate for their building.
Professional and political reaction
Dr Munro Stewart, vice-president of the Royal College of GPs, said reliable diagnostics depend on clinical samples being stored in the right conditions and tested promptly. He added: “GPs and our teams will do our best to ensure samples are kept cool through use of fridges and air-conditioned rooms, but this will be more challenging for some surgeries.”
Shadow Energy Secretary Claire Coutinho argued that air conditioning is normal in many countries because it boosts productivity and comfort. She said: “To effectively ban it in new homes and hospitals because bureaucrats think it uses too much energy is absurd. The Conservatives would end the de-facto air con ban and make Britain cool again.”
Government clarification
In June, the Government denied there is an air-conditioning ban in the UK. It pointed to a £2,500 grant available to eligible homeowners in England and Wales to help access low-cost cooling and heating systems.
