Tests and Results

BACK TO SERVICES

Results of Tests and Investigations

We will contact you only if a result is abnormal and you require treatment or further investigations. You will not be contacted if your result is normal.

We encourage you to use the NHS App to view your test results. You can download the NHS app using the links below.

• Access NHS App
• Access NHS on a computer

Alternatively, you can contact the Surgery after 3pm to enquire about your results. The administrative staff will give results to you or you may be asked to speak to the nurse or doctor.

Results will not be given to anyone other than the patient, or for children their parent or guardian, except in exceptional circumstances.

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.

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

If the doctor or nurse has asked you to provide a pathology sample e.g. urine, stool, sputum, these must be left at reception before 11.00am, Monday - Friday.  There is now a blood and specimen collections in the afternoons at 4pm so afternoon appointments can be booked and specimens left for later collection.  Specimens must be in a container provided by the surgery.

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 Website.