Getting your test results
On average please allow 5 working days for your test results to come back from the hospital unless your doctor has advised otherwise. Please note that x-ray results take a little longer, usually 14 days.
If your test results show that you need more tests or treatment, we will contact you.
Once a doctor has reviewed your test results, you can view them:
- in your NHS account (through the NHS website or NHS App)
- in your Patient Access account
- phone or visit us between 10am to 4pm and we will tell you what the results are
Important Notice:
To preserve patient confidentiality we will only give results to the person who has had the test, unless we have received written permission from the patient concerned to inform someone else, or the patient is a child under 16, in which case we will inform the child’s parent or guardian of the result.
Questions about your results
If you want to talk to someone about your results, fill out our test results request form and someone will be in touch.
Test Information
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:
- help diagnose anaemia or diabetes
- confirm the presence of infection or inflammation
- see how well certain organs, such as the liver, kidneys or thyroid are functioning
- monitor certain medications eg lithium or warfarin
A blood test usually involves a phlebotomist taking a blood sample from a blood vessel in your arm. 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-Rays
X-rays are a very useful test to help assess certain parts of the body such as the lungs or bones. They are also used to detect breast cancer in ‘mammography’. However, they are not very useful in assessing problems with muscles or ligaments so are not used very often to assess back pain for example.
An x-ray involves a small dose of radiation, so we try to avoid x-raying children and we don’t expose pregnant women to x-rays of their pelvis or abdomen. Please inform us if you think that there is any chance that you might be pregnant. (These rules don’t apply to ultrasound or MRI scans, but they do apply to CAT scans).
Unfortunately we do not have x-ray facilities available at the practice.
You can find out more about x-ray tests, how they are performed, their function and the risks by visiting the NHS website.