An alarming investigation by the BBC has revealed that a machine used to diagnose diabetes has produced inaccurate results, leading to over 55,000 people in England needing further blood tests.
This error has led to patients being wrongly diagnosed with type 2 diabetes and even prescribed unnecessary medication.
NHS England has confirmed that 16 hospital trusts are using these faulty machines, manufactured by Trinity Biotech, and there may be even more people affected.
The Unseen Impact on Patients
The human cost of this error is significant, as illustrated by the story of Vicky Davies, a 36-year-old from Kingston upon Hull.
In October 2024, she was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes based on the faulty test and was later prescribed the maximum dose of metformin, a drug used to manage the condition.
For four months, she endured side effects like stomach issues and dizziness. It wasn’t until April 2025 that she was told her initial results might have been inaccurate and was advised to stop taking the medication immediately.
“It’s had a huge effect on my life,” Vicky shared with BBC News. “Since the diagnosis, I have suffered with stress and had to take time off work to attend appointments… I’m just so angry.”
While her GP practice stated they were unaware of the lab issues, the NHS trust responsible for her tests has since stopped using the problematic kit.
A spokesperson for York and Scarborough Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust apologised, saying, “We understand this situation may have caused concern and apologise for any worry or anxiety.”
The Cause of the Error
The faulty machines, produced by Trinity Biotech, analyse a haemoglobin A1C test, which measures average blood sugar levels to diagnose and monitor type 2 diabetes.
The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) first received reports of issues with these tests in April 2024. The machines were found to have a “positive bias,” meaning they were more likely to deliver results that incorrectly indicated a patient was pre-diabetic or diabetic.
In response to the scandal, Trinity Biotech stated that it is working with the UK health regulator and has contacted all affected hospitals.
The company claims it issued three Field Safety Notices to all UK users in 2024, informing them of the potential issue and emphasising the need to operate the systems according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
The Broader Consequences
This widespread error comes at a time when type 2 diabetes diagnoses in England have already seen an unexpected 4% rise.
According to Dr. Clare Hambling, NHS England’s diabetes national clinical director, while the potential for misdiagnosis is “understandably worrying,” the clinical risk to patients is considered low.
NHS England adds that fewer than 10% of its laboratories were affected, and all have either replaced the machines or addressed the calibration issues.
However, the Royal College of GPs chair, Professor Kamila Hawthorne, expressed a different concern. She stated that while errors can happen, “the prospect of widespread technology failures like this will be of huge concern for all GPs, primarily because of the unnecessary distress, inconvenience and anxiety they can cause our patients.”
She also noted the significant impact on GPs’ workloads, who will be responsible for re-testing and managing a massive influx of patients.
NHS trusts are now in the process of recalling patients for repeat tests.
The steps you need to take
If you are one of the patients affected, you’ll be contacted by your GP or local hospital.
If you or someone you know experiences symptoms like hypoglycaemia (shaking, confusion) or hyperglycaemia (excessive thirst, blurred vision) while taking diabetes medication, it’s advised to seek medical attention immediately.
Frequently asked questions:
What is a medical misdiagnosis?
Alongside delayed diagnosis, medical misdiagnosis is one of the most common types of medical negligence claims:
Medical misdiagnosis (incorrect diagnosis or failure to diagnose) occurs when a medical professional provides an incorrect diagnosis or fails to diagnose you after negligently misinterpreting your symptoms and/or not investigating your symptoms appropriately.
If you have received an incorrect diagnosis, you may have undergone unnecessary treatments or procedures. Further to this, particularly in relation to a failure to diagnose, your condition may go untreated, or its treatment may be delayed, meaning that you may require more invasive treatment in the future.
What is a delay in medical misdiagnosis?
Here, a medical professional fails to diagnose a health condition when they should have done so or fails to refer you for investigations, meaning you are diagnosed late. This can again lead to a worsening of the condition and prolong your period without necessary treatment.
This can encompass delays in referrals, scans, and other investigations. It can also include medical professionals overlooking symptoms or records that are re-reviewed at a later date and urgently acted upon once the delay has been identified.
Where might misdiagnosis or delay occur, and with what conditions?
Medical misdiagnosis and/or delay can occur in all areas of medical practice. However, they are common in the following settings:
- GP Negligence
- A&E Negligence
- Dental Negligence
- Hospital Negligence
- Surgical Negligence
Furthermore, medical misdiagnosis and/or delay can occur in diagnosing any medical conditions; however are common in the following medical conditions:
- Orthopaedic issues such as fractures and cauda equina syndrome.
- Cancer
- Diabetes
- Heart attacks
- Strokes
- Infections
- Meningitis
Medical misdiagnosis and/or delay can severely affect an individual’s life, treatment options, recovery period and in more serious cases, the chance of survival.
If you have been given the wrong medical advice or course of treatment, which has left you in a debilitating condition, you may be eligible to make a medical misdiagnosis and/or delay claim.
How do I make a claim?
If you feel that you have been affected as a result of late diagnosis or incorrect or inappropriate treatment, then you may be entitled to bring a claim for compensation.
The team at Oakwood Solicitors Ltd will be able to give you free advice on the prospects of your case and whether you would be eligible to make a claim.
How much is my claim worth?
It is often difficult to value clinical negligence claims at their outset, given the complexities involved; however, we will pursue two forms of compensation for you:
- General damages – an award of money for the pain and suffering you have endured as a result of the negligence.
- Special damages – an award of money for all of your out-of-pocket expenses, such as travel expenses, medication costs, loss of earnings, and treatment costs, both past and future. This list is not exhaustive and is very case-specific.
How is my case funded?
The majority of clinical negligence cases are funded by a Conditional Fee Agreement (CFA), more commonly known as a ‘no-win, no-fee’ agreement. This means that there will be nothing to pay upfront and nothing to pay if the claim is lost. If you are successful in your claim, a deduction of 25% of damages will be taken to cover the success fee and the shortfall in legal fees.
It may also be the case that an After the Event (ATE) insurance policy will be obtained to cover the costs of expensive medical reports and investigations. If an ATE insurance policy has to be obtained, the cost of the same will be discussed with you at the appropriate point.
The cost of the ATE insurance policy is again taken from your damages and is only payable if you are successful with your claim.
Further information:
The error leaves 55,000 diabetes patients needing new tests.
Oakwood Solicitors: Medical Misdiagnosis or Delay.
WHAT TO DO NEXT:
If you have been impacted as a result of a medical error, get in touch today for a no-obligation consultation.
Choose one of the methods on the right-hand side of this page or call us on 0113 323 2817 to find out how we can help you with your enquiry.
Carol Cook joined Oakwood Solicitors in May 2017 to lead the Medical Negligence Department.
Carol handles a wide range of clinical, cosmetic and dental negligence claims and has years of experi…
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