When you attend for a test of any kind you will be told how long you should expect to wait for the results. Please bear this in mind and call the surgery once sufficient time has elapsed.
Blood or urine tests
Unless the doctor or nurse has specifically asked you to come back and see them, please phone the surgery in one week for your results – after 10am. Due to the pressure on our phone lines in the morning, you will be asked to call back if you phone for results before 10am. PLEASE DO NOT make an appointment to get your results.
Scans and x-rays
Unless the doctor or nurse has specifically asked you to come back and see them, please phone the surgery in 2 weeks for your results (after 10am). Scans and x-rays often take a bit longer to come through from the hospital, so please do not phone too early. Please DO NOT make an appointment to get your results.
If your scan or x-ray has been arranged by a hospital doctor, the result will be sent directly to them, and they will arrange for you to get the result at your next appointment, or by letter. The surgery does not routinely receive results arranged by the hospital until the hospital writes to us with an update.
When you phone for your results the receptionist may ask you to have your blood tests repeated in the near future. This is very common, and isn’t anything to worry about. It often just means that a second test is required to get a clearer picture or confirm or rule out a diagnosis. There is no need to see or speak to a doctor about being asked to have blood tests repeated. Your doctor would contact you themselves if they had concerns about your results.
You will be asked for some personal details when calling, this is to confirm your identity. The receptionist has the right to refuse the release of medical information if he/she feels that it does not pertain to the person calling. We hope that our patients find our high standards of confidentiality satisfactory with regard to releasing this type of information.
If the test was arranged by your hospital consultant
If your test has been carried out at a Clinic or Hospital please call the Clinic or Hospital for the result, as we cannot action tests which have been requested by other Clinicians outwith the practice. If the consultant’s secretary or colleague inform you they will send the results to your GP, explain that you want the results from the specialist who arranged them who is in by far the best place to give appropriate advice.
Our reception staff are not qualified to comment on results therefore it is your responsibility to check them and make any necessary follow-up appointment with the doctor.
Please note that 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.
Information about your laboratory tests
For information on what your laboratory test results mean please visit Lab Tests Online.
Specimens
All specimens must be provided in a suitable container and marked clearly with name, date of birth and a date and reason for the specimen.
Failure to do so may mean that the test will need to be repeated – Please note that when bringing in a sample to the surgery, only samples in the correct container can be accepted. These are available from reception.
