Tests and Results

 

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Please be aware that receptionists may only advise you of your test result with the doctor's authorisation. If your GP tells you to telephone for a result please call after 11am.

Image of patient receiving test results

 

Blood Tests

A blood test is when a sample of blood is taken for testing in a laboratory. Blood tests have a wide range of uses and are one of the most common types of medical test. For example, a blood test can be used to:

  • assess your general state of health
  • confirm the presence of a bacterial or viral infection
  • see how well certain organs, such as the liver and kidneys, are functioning

A blood test usually involves the phlebotomist taking a blood sample from a blood vessel in your arm. and the usual place for a sample is the inside of the elbow or wrist, where the veins are relatively close to the surface. Blood samples from children are most commonly taken from the back of the hand. The child’s hand will be anaesthetised (numbed) with a special cream before the sample is taken.

You can find out more about blood tests, their purpose and the way they are performed on the NHS website.

 

We receive a lot of requests from patients who require additional tests for a hospital consultant

Sounds easy but let us explain how this works

You may have visited or received a letter from your hospital consultant, they ask you to have some further tests for example blood tests in 2 months time or before your next hospital appointment or procedure. This is something that we can do here at the surgery BUT we are unable to do this if the test request is not showing on a system called ICE (Integrated Clinical Environment). This is a system that allows GP practice systems to talk to secondary care (your hospital consultant).

  • Your consultant MUST put the Request on ICE or we are unable to book you an appointment for the tests to be carried out in surgery.
  • Our Reception will check the request is showing on ICE before booking an appointment.
  • Please check with your consultant that their request is added to ICE when you are speaking with them.
  • Our clinicians will carry out the tests ONLY if showing on ICE.
  • The results from your tests will then go directly back to the consultant. It is the hospital or secondary care provider that requires the test to be carried out and receives back the test results they require.

Something so simple but can cause unnecessary problems for patients, our team and your consultant. Unnecessary phone calls, unable to book the tests and delays to your treatment.

We hope you understand the process and if this is something that will affect you please help us all by reminding your consultant to add to ICE, this will make it much easier and smoother for us all.