Test Results

You may telephone for the results of tests on 01202 525252 please remember the following points:

1. Results will only be given to the specific patient to whom they apply. In the interest of confidentiality please be prepared to identify yourself. Please do not telephone for results for friends/relatives without prior arrangement (written consent may be required)
2. The Surgery tends to be at its quietest after 2.00 pm when the receptionist will have more time to deal with your enquiry. Checking results is time-consuming and requests at other times may result in you being asked to call back after 2.00 pm. 
3. You will need to know the specific test results that you require. Some tests take longer than others to process. If you have had several tests the receptionist will not necessarily know whether all the results are back unless you can identify them.
4. Please do not expect the receptionist to have any medical knowledge. They are only instructed to tell you if your test is normal. If any test is abnormal or you require further discussion or interpretation then please refer to your doctor. 
5. Occasionally the surgery may contact you by telephone or letter (e.g. with a prescription to treat a result like a “water infection”).

Please remember though that we do hundreds of tests and we cannot contact you all with your results, so we leave this responsibility with you. We do however ensure that all test results are seen by a doctor.

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 Choices website.

X-Ray

An X-ray is a widely used diagnostic test to examine the inside of the body. X-rays are a very effective way of detecting problems with bones, such as fractures. They can also often identify problems with soft tissue, such as pneumonia or breast cancer.

If you have a X-ray, you will be asked to lie on a table or stand against a surface so that the part of your body being X-rayed is between the X-ray tube and the photographic plate.

An X-ray is usually carried out by a radiographer, a healthcare professional who specialises in using imaging technology, such as X-rays and ultrasound scanners.

You can find out more about x-ray tests, how they are performed, their function and the risks by visiting the NHS Choices website.