Test Results

Results of Tests and Investigations

The best way to check test results is online via NHS APP or Patient Access.

The best way to check test results is online via NHS APP or Patient Access. We will contact you by telephone or letter only if a result is abnormal and you require treatment or further investigations. You will not be contacted if your result is normal.

To enquire about results of blood tests, urine tests, X-rays or other investigations please phone between 15:00 and 17:00.

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 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
  • 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 childs 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.

Investigation Requests from External Providers

  1. Tests Done by Others: If you had a test done by someone who is not a clinician from our practice (like a private provider or a service abroad), please contact the person who ordered the test for its interpretation and any further action. It is their responsibility to manage your care based on that test. 
  1. Sharing Test Results with Us: If you bring test results from another provider to your appointment with us, we will consider them as part of your assessment if we think they are relevant. However, if it is a test we are unfamiliar with or would not have recommended, we may ask you to go back to the person who ordered it for further advice. 
  1. NHS Guidelines on Tests: NHS guidelines advise us not to order tests that we believe are unnecessary or to repeat tests that have already been done. Therefore, we usually cannot repeat tests on the NHS that were arranged privately. If we find those private test results important, we may use them in your care, but it is your responsibility to provide us with the complete results. 
  1. Do Not Send Test Results for Interpretation: Please do not send us test results expecting a response or interpretation. If you feel unwell and need support, call our practice to discuss booking an appointment. 

(The above relates to investigations and new medications)