Concern over plans to move Lancashire NHS lab services

Unite said some biomedical scientists working in Preston, Blackpool and Morecambe Bay could face a round trip commute of up to 120 miles if they want to keep their jobs – and said the plans could result in a ‘loss of skills and expertise.’

Though some laboratory testing services would remain, blood tests, cancer screening, and tissue biopsies would be centralised at a new £30m site to be built at Lancaster University in four years’ time, initial plans passed earlier this month revealed.