GPs have been taken unawares by a new courier service introduced by the Luton & Dunstable Hospital last week. And far from requesting it - as claimed by the L&D - some say they had been unaware of the change.

One is so angry she has written on behalf of her partnership stating their concerns. She said: "The previous service was a dedicated part of the health service. Everything was going well and according to protocol. We knew the drivers and built up a relationship with them. Now we've got no idea who's coming."

Another GP said: "We certainly weren't consulted and I didn't know anything about it until your call. I'm very concerned that clinical details about patients will fall into the wrong hands. What about confidentiality? Handling samples is another area of concern. I'm not happy at all."

The L&D's head of communications Barry Mayes said the change had been introduced in direct response to GPs' concerns that the previous service was inflexible. This had sometimes led to samples deteriorating and patients being recalled as a consequence.

He said the L&D had been training the external couriers during the past few weeks.

In reply to concerns that patients' notes would also be carried, he confirmed that these would be in sealed bags and that the courier company was bound by confidentiality clauses.