Your clinician may ask you to provide a sample for a laboratory test. This could be in the form of a blood test, in which case you will need to book an appointment with a phlebotomist to have your blood taken. See the Phlebotomy Clinics section for more information. Depending on the test required, you may be asked to fast for a period of time before your blood is taken.
Alternatively, you may be asked to produce a urine or stool sample. Your clinician will provide you with a form and a container for your sample. If you are bringing in a sample from home, please hand this in at the reception desk, before 1pm.
You will receive a text message to let you know when each separate blood test result is ready to view online via the NHS App. If you’ve not registered for the NHS App yet, please download it here: https://www.nhs.uk/nhs-app/ Important: Results marked as Normal or Satisfactory require no further action, there is no need to contact the surgery regarding these. Results marked as Abnormal will have comments alongside them from your GP advising you what to do next.
Most tests take approximately four to five days, but some can take longer. Please do go back and check your NHS App five days after your first text to ensure you view all of your results.
Please make sure we have your up to date home and mobile telephone numbers in case we need to contact you.
If the test was arranged by your hospital consultant
If your test has been carried out at a Clinic or Hospital please call the Clinic or Hospital for the result, as we cannot action tests which have been requested by other Clinicians outwith the practice. If the consultant’s secretary or colleague inform you they will send the results to your GP, explain that you want the results from the specialist who arranged them who is in by far the best place to give appropriate advice.
Our Reception staff are not qualified to comment on results therefore it is your responsibility to check them and make any necessary follow-up appointment with the Doctor.
Please note that we do have a strict policy regarding confidentiality and data protection. In this respect we will only give out results to the person they relate to unless that person has given prior permission for their release or if they are not capable of understanding them.
Information about your laboratory tests
For information on what your laboratory test results mean please visit Lab Tests Online.
Please note, this website does not give you access to your actual results, but will provide an explanation of what the varying tests are and what the results mean.
Specimens
All specimens must be provided in a suitable container and marked clearly with name, date of birth, date provided and reason for the specimen.
Failure to do so may mean that the test will need to be repeated – Please note that when bringing in a sample to the surgery, only samples in the correct container can be accepted. These are available from reception.
Tests Performed Outside of the NHS Including Abroad
These results will not appear on any NHS systems, therefore are not accessible to NHS clinicians (unless the referral was made by your NHS care provider). If you have had tests outside of the NHS it is your responsibility to provide us with copies or originals of all the test results in order that we do not duplicate tests. If you are unable to do so you may be referred to an appropriate UK setting for the same test. This is to ensure we comply with best practice care standards. If you do not wish to have a repeat test you will be asked to give informed dissent.