New blood testing machine dramatically cuts waits for cancer patients
Cancer patients at St Bartholomew’s Hospital are getting important blood test results in as little as 10 to 15 minutes, thanks to a new machine that allows tests to be carried out on site.
Previously, patients visiting the hospital’s Cancer Assessment Unit (CAU) could wait between four and six hours for blood test results because their samples had to be sent to another hospital laboratory.
The recently installed machine, provided by Fujifilm Healthcare UK, means staff can now carry out a range of important blood tests on site. This allows doctors and nurses to understand what is wrong more quickly and decide what treatment a patient needs sooner.
It is the first time Fujifilm’s point-of-care blood analyser technology has been installed directly within an NHS cancer care unit in the UK.
Since the machine was introduced, the unit has been able to see around 50 more patients each month. It has also reduced the number of patients who need to go to A&E, meaning more people can receive specialist cancer care in the CAU rather than having to wait in a busy emergency department.
The Cancer Assessment Unit is a dedicated service for cancer patients who become unwell during their treatment. It helps people experiencing problems or side effects from chemotherapy or radiotherapy get the specialist care they need without having to go to A&E.
Between October 2025 and July 2026, the unit treated 2,717 patients - 21% more than during the same period the previous year.
Staff say the quicker test results are helping patients get the care they need sooner, while also making the unit a calmer place for people who are already going through a difficult time.
Nic Lawrence, senior charge nurse at St Bartholomew’s Hospital, said: "Since we introduced the machine, we have seen a real difference in how quickly we can assess patients.
"Getting blood test results in minutes rather than waiting several hours means we can make decisions about a patient’s care much sooner. People can start the treatment they need more quickly, and fewer patients need to be sent to A&E.
"For patients who are already going through cancer treatment, being able to get answers and the right care sooner can make a huge difference."
Read more