UPDATE - 20 June 2025:
Industrial action that was planned to take place in Liverpool Clinical Laboratories’ Microbiology service from 23 – 25 June 2025 has now been suspended.
LCL will operate a full service as normal on these days.
Potential industrial action – LCL microbiology staff
Members of Unite the Union who work within Liverpool Clinical Laboratories’ Microbiology service are currently planning to take industrial action starting at 8am on Monday 23 June until 8pm on Wednesday 25 June.
In preparation for potential industrial action, plans are in place to maintain essential microbiology services on strike days and patients should continue attending appointments and using NHS services as normal.
All other services are unaffected and LCL will be operating a full service at all our sites, including:
- Virology
- Haematology / Transfusion
- Chemistry
- Coagulation
- Immunology
- BMT
- H&I
- HODS
- Cellular Pathology (Including Cytology, ICC and Molecular)
- Mortuary and ME
- Customer Care
- Logistics and Warehouse
Our primary focus remains the delivery of essential diagnostic services, while safeguarding patient care and safety.
We have undertaken a thorough risk assessment and have implemented a series of contingency measures, aligned with national safety standards. In order to manage demand and capacity before, during and after the planned period of industrial action, the following contingencies will apply from Wednesday 18 June until Friday 27 June:
- Prioritisation of clinically urgent samples: clinically urgent samples such as blood cultures, CSFs, sterile fluids and nonrepeatable will be prioritised. Please click here to download predicted turnaround times during industrial action.
- Adjusted Turnaround Times: Routine and non-urgent tests may experience delays.
On strike days (23 – 25 June), the microbiology service will be covered as follows:
- 8am-8pm – urgent sample processing
- 8pm-8am – on-call only service
Regular updates will be provided to clinical teams, leadership, and partner services should any changes to planned services arise. If you want to be included in future communications directly, please contact lcl.
We remain in ongoing dialogue with Unite the Union and will continue to monitor the situation closely.
We appreciate your cooperation and understanding during this period. If you have specific concerns or require further information, please contact:
- Sample related enquiries – Customer Care Team – 0151 706 5888 LCLcustomercare
@liverpoolft.nhs.uk
- For out of hours urgent clinical queries contact Trust Switchboard and ask to be transferred to the Microbiology on-call consultant – 0151 706 2000
- General and service provision enquiries – LCL communication – lcl.
communications @liverpoolft.nhs.uk
