Test Results

Please call between 11:00 and 15:30 to enquire about your test results as our reception staff will have more time to deal with your request between these times. We will usually check that your results have arrived and ask you to book an appointment to come and discuss the details of your tests with one of the doctors or nurses together with a review of your original health problem and any symptoms which you have had. The reception staff are unable to discuss your results in detail, but will be able to give you some idea of whether they have been reported as normal or not.

Note that the practice has a strict policy regarding confidentiality and data protection and we will only release test results to the person to whom they relate unless that person has given prior permission for the release of this data or they are not capable of understanding the results.

When you take your test you will be told how long it will be before the results are returned to the practice.

It is your responsibility to check your results are back and to make an appointment to discuss them with your doctor if you are advised to do so.

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
• help to confirm the presence of a bacterial or viral infection
• see how well certain organs, such as the liver and kidneys, are functioning
• monitor treatment of long term illnesses such as diabetes, heart disease and thyroid problems

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 on the 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 often be anaesthetised (numbed) with a special cream before the sample is taken.

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 and some forms of arthritis. They can also often identify problems with soft tissue, such as lung disease or kidney stones.

A special type of X-ray, called a mammogram is used to help pick up the early signs of breast cancer as part of the NHS breast screening service .

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.

Ultrasound Scan

This test uses sound waves as a way to show details of soft tissue structures in the body.