Test Results
All test results are seen by one of the doctors, who then look at your records and decide what action, if any, is required.
We tend to notify you by phone call or letter if any further action or tests are required. For blood tests this is usually 3 to 4 working days from when you had the test, 5 working days for urine tests sent to the lab, same day for urine tests checked in the surgery, 3 working days for ultrasound scans and currently three weeks for X-rays.
If your results are normal or unchanged from previously, and no action needs to be taken, we tend not to make contact with you. However if you phone the surgery the receptionist will be able to check that the test has been seen by one of the doctors and can pass on the comment from the doctor. The receptionist is also authorised to tell you the numerical result of your tests, and of the previous ones. However, as the reception team have no medical training they are not in a position to discuss the test result in any way. Should you require more information than is available from the doctor's comment please ask to arrange a telephone appointment with one of the doctors. These are scheduled between 11:00 and 13:00.
If you have had a test done by the hospital your consultant might write to you directly with the result or might write to your registered GP. Our reception team is able to tell you whether such a letter has arrived but not to discuss its contents. You can discuss the result via a GP telephone appointment as above. Please be aware that it can take three weeks or longer for us to receive a letter from the hospital. If the reception team advises that a letter has not been received you may choose to contact the consultant’s secretary and request the result of your test.
Please note: If, at the time of having the tests, you were asked to make a further appointment to discuss the results we would not usually contact you as we are expecting to see you for your appointment. (Should you have to cancel please advise the receptionist to let the doctor know you were to receive test results at that appointment)
We do have a strict policy regarding confidentiality and data protection. In this respect we will only give out results to the person they relate to unless that person has given prior permission for their release or if they are not capable of understanding them.