What should I expect after I have had a test/tests?
Once you have had a blood test, or hand in a urine or stool test, or go for a scan that one of our doctors has asked for, the results will be sent to the requesting GP in question. The time taken for the results to come back varies between a few days for most tests, to a few weeks for more complex tests.
As soon as the result has been sent back from the lab, you can see it in your NHS app. However, a doctor then needs to interpret and review each result. If a result is significantly abnormal or worrying, we will contact you directly, usually by telephone call. If the result is abnormal, but not dangerous, you may receive a call, or be sent an email, or asked to attend for a follow-up appointment. If a result is normal, we will not contact you unless a GP has specifically agreed to do so.
Because of this process, we ask that you do not contact us about a set of results visible in your NHS app until you can see that a GP has reviewed all the results.
I have a question about my result(s) – what should I do?
If you want to talk to someone about your results, please complete a PATCHs request or call us, and we will triage your request. Again, because of our results protocol as detailed above, we would ask you not contact us until a doctor has reviewed all of your results, which you can see on the NHS app (“review done by” will appear on each result once a GP has reviewed it). We triage all requests for appointments, and after contacting us about your results, you may receive a reply via PATCHs, an email, a call, or be booked for an appointment, depending on the significance of any abnormalities in your results.
Results from tests ordered by consultants, hospital or other specialist services
It is the responsibility of the doctor ordering a test to check and follow-up the result. This means that specialist or hospital services will review results of tests they have ordered, and will contact you directly depending on their own departmental policy. Please note that we do not routinely review or discuss hospital test requests as GPs – please wait for the hospital to contact you. If you have a question about a given hospital result, please contact the relevant hospital department first – details can usually be found on the hospital website, or by calling their switchboard.