Blood tests & results - what's the usual procedure?
Discussion
I had some blood taken at the docs recently - who would normally give out the results? ie, do you just phone up and get them from the receptionist if all's clear or does the doc get in touch if anything's amiss, or will the receptionist just say, 'you need to book an appointment with us?'
Or none of the above...?
Or none of the above...?
I should probably state, never had to arrange blood tests before I had them taken, so as I didn't hear anything back regarding the results I called the doc's surgery up and got them over the phone - from the receptionist.
However there wasn't much in the way of clarity other than 'your blood test was clear'. Given that I had two sets of bloods done and a urine I had to ask 'which one?' - would rather have had a chat with the doc to see what else could be causing the symptoms if they aready knew that nothing major is apparent. Ho hum.
However there wasn't much in the way of clarity other than 'your blood test was clear'. Given that I had two sets of bloods done and a urine I had to ask 'which one?' - would rather have had a chat with the doc to see what else could be causing the symptoms if they aready knew that nothing major is apparent. Ho hum.
Sharted said:
IME it depends.
If its the first time you'll need to see the doc, if its a repeat to see if they are better/worse than you might get the results from the dragon on reception (usually if the results are an improvement)
In which case the receptionist is breaking the NHS rules on information governance. We've had numerous lessons and online tests about patient records, and we have to be very careful about disclosing patient information. Can't even give it to close family members.If its the first time you'll need to see the doc, if its a repeat to see if they are better/worse than you might get the results from the dragon on reception (usually if the results are an improvement)
ReaderScars said:
Thing is, one set of blood was for cholesterol. I haven't been given any info about that at all. So for the receptionist to tell me 'the result came back clear' doesn't make much sense 
Welcome to the NHS. They tried one test, it came back negative. If you now do nothing then that will be the end of it. It's your responsibility to drive the diagnostic process by booking another appointment & saying to the doctor 'right, it wasn't that, what next?'.Mr Pointy said:
Welcome to the NHS. They tried one test, it came back negative. If you now do nothing then that will be the end of it. It's your responsibility to drive the diagnostic process by booking another appointment & saying to the doctor 'right, it wasn't that, what next?'.
Okay, thanks. I'm crap at being a patient.Mr Pointy said:
ReaderScars said:
Thing is, one set of blood was for cholesterol. I haven't been given any info about that at all. So for the receptionist to tell me 'the result came back clear' doesn't make much sense
Welcome to the NHS. They tried one test, it came back negative. If you now do nothing then that will be the end of it. It's your responsibility to drive the diagnostic process by booking another appointment & saying to the doctor 'right, it wasn't that, what next?'.Seems that no one is ill on Tuesday afternoons as that's when staff training happens. Might get to find out tomorrow what my cholesterol level actually is. As well as attempting to identify the cause of the other symptoms at a future appointment.
Ah well, now I know how things operate at that particular surgery.
Ah well, now I know how things operate at that particular surgery.
aw51 121565 said:
Behave! 
If a test result needs attention (pt TCI in medical parlance
), then the patient will be flagged up for a call - paradoxically, if the results are OK then the patient won't get a call...
It's backwards, but "no news is good news" .
And it's this attitude that sums up the problem with healthcare in this country. The OP has a problem. The doctor doesn't know what's wrong but ordered up a couple of tests to obtain more information. These tests came back negative, but the problem still exists. What the doctor almost certainly won't do is say "well it wasn't that, maybe it's this" & call the OP back in. He'll just sit back & let the OP remain unwell rather than being proactive about finding out what's wrong.If a test result needs attention (pt TCI in medical parlance
), then the patient will be flagged up for a call - paradoxically, if the results are OK then the patient won't get a call...It's backwards, but "no news is good news"
.You have to continually drive the system to investigate & find out what's wrong. Most weeks there is a report of someone dying because they went to the doctor & got sent away having being told there is nothing wrong only to find out months later they are seriously ill.
Unless you make yourself a nuisance (or have someone who will to it for you) you won't get the service you need. Unfortunately this is something men in particular are reluctant to do.
Argh! The plot thickens...when I called up for the results and was told 'everything's normal' I didn't ask for the specific cholesterol score. Phoned back this afternoon to be told a cholesterol test wasn't done...!
Tey specifically invited me in for that test as well as blood pressure as part of a general MOT - I'm at that age now, apparently it inferred.
I even had the following enquiry at the time, to the bloodsucker - "can an optician determine what your cholesterol level is from your eyes?" and she replied "a good one will be able to tell you something about it but this here" - gesturing to the emptying arm - "will tell you exactly".
I might book an appointment at the optician.
Tey specifically invited me in for that test as well as blood pressure as part of a general MOT - I'm at that age now, apparently it inferred.
I even had the following enquiry at the time, to the bloodsucker - "can an optician determine what your cholesterol level is from your eyes?" and she replied "a good one will be able to tell you something about it but this here" - gesturing to the emptying arm - "will tell you exactly".
I might book an appointment at the optician.
Argh! The plot thickens...when I called up for the results and was told 'everything's normal' I didn't ask for the specific cholesterol score. Phoned back this afternoon to be told a cholesterol test wasn't done...!
Tey specifically invited me in for that test as well as blood pressure as part of a general MOT - I'm at that age now, apparently it inferred.
I even had the following enquiry at the time, to the bloodsucker - "can an optician determine what your cholesterol level is from your eyes?" and she replied "a good one will be able to tell you something about it but this here" - gesturing to the emptying arm - "will tell you exactly".
I might book an appointment at the optician.
Tey specifically invited me in for that test as well as blood pressure as part of a general MOT - I'm at that age now, apparently it inferred.
I even had the following enquiry at the time, to the bloodsucker - "can an optician determine what your cholesterol level is from your eyes?" and she replied "a good one will be able to tell you something about it but this here" - gesturing to the emptying arm - "will tell you exactly".
I might book an appointment at the optician.
Christ 
nightmare.
Yes, you'll have to go back for another blood test. This is the only way to measure cholesterol accurately - the optician thing is just a helpful indication to people if they go for an eye test and it is noticed by the optician. Their next statement would just be 'so please book an appointment with your GP for a proper test...'
Sorry, you'll have to go back again...
nightmare.Yes, you'll have to go back for another blood test. This is the only way to measure cholesterol accurately - the optician thing is just a helpful indication to people if they go for an eye test and it is noticed by the optician. Their next statement would just be 'so please book an appointment with your GP for a proper test...'
Sorry, you'll have to go back again...
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