The NHS is reaching out to around 11,000 patients due to potential inaccuracies in HbA1c blood test results that may have led to misdiagnoses of diabetes.

This issue originated from a malfunctioning blood test machine at Luton and Dunstable University Hospital, affecting tests conducted between April and July 2023.

In response, Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is taking precautionary measures by sending repeat samples to another laboratory for analysis.

Affected patients across Luton, south Bedfordshire, and Hertfordshire are being invited for retests as a precautionary step.

Cathy Jones, the chief operating officer at Bedfordshire Hospitals, has advised patients not to contact the hospital or their GP unless they have been directly informed about needing a re-test.

Patients are encouraged to wait for communication from the hospital regarding retests and should not reach out directly unless instructed.

Despite the concerns, the trust does not anticipate that this issue has caused serious harm to patients and reassures them not to worry.

The trust has expressed apologies for the emotional distress and inconvenience caused, and is conducting a thorough review to identify the root cause of the problem.

The NHS has acknowledged the emotional distress caused by the malfunctioning machine and is actively working to rectify the situation.

Patient Danielle Downs voiced her frustration after receiving misleading test results that suggested she was pre-diabetic, only to find normal levels upon private testing.

The trust has advised patients who received medication based on potentially faulty results to continue their treatment until they can undergo a repeat test.

A helpline has been established for patients needing to arrange re-tests, with the contact number provided for assistance.