When you attend a test of any kind you will be told how long you should expect to wait for the results. We do not usually contact patients if test results are normal due to the volume of results that we process each day. If you have access to your records via the NHS App, SystemOnline or Airmid, you will be able to see your test results as soon as they have been reviewed by a GP. This is the quickest and easiest way to see your results.
The results telephone line is open from 2 pm Monday to Friday.
Our reception staff are not qualified to interpret results. They are only able to advise of comments that may have been made by the clinician who reviewed the results.
If the clinical team would like to discuss the results with you further they may contact you by phone, post or text message (if you have consented to this).
If the result of an investigation needs discussing urgently we will advise you of this. All other communications should be considered “routine” and staff can help you to make an appropriate appointment.
If possible it is usually best to review the results with the clinician who ordered the test, as they will best be placed to interpret the results.
Non-urgent advice: Notice
Please note that we do have a strict policy regarding confidentiality and data protection. We can only give out results to the person they relate to unless appropriate consent has previously been recorded.
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 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. The usual place for a sample is the inside of the elbow or back of the hand, 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 most likely be anaesthetised (numbed) with a special cream before the sample is taken.
Children under 10 may be asked to have their blood taken at the hospital as they are better equipped.
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 an 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.