When should I ring my GP to get results?
It depends [(“thanks CKDEx!” “Thats OK. Ed.]
It is good to chase your own tests. We know it is a frustrating area for people. But there are two basics rule of chasing tests:
- Do not assume that no news is good news
- Chase the right person (or team) – eg if a hospital doctor or nurse does a test on you, contact them. If it is your GP, contact them. Neither is allowed to tell you the result if they did not order it. This is partly because they may not be able access it (e.g. computers do not talk to each other); and partly (even if they can), because they may not be able to interpret it. For example, a GP or hospital kidney doctor cannot interpret a spinal MRI requested by an orthopaedic surgeon (even if they can read it).
Also, please remember that a GP’s receptionist or consultant’s secretary can only act in accordance with the doctors’ instructions – so may not be able to give you a result.
This does not necessarily mean that there is a problem but simply that the doctor needs to see you or talk to you to explain the whole situation.
Note. The results of tests carried out during hospital admissions or at hospital clinic appointments are not automatically sent to your GP. Often your GP will receive a letter communicating results at the same time as you receive your a letter from the consultant.
Confidentiality
Results for patients over 16yrs can only be given to the patient (i.e. not the family). Under 16yrs, they can only be given to a parent or equivalent.
When to ring?
Wherever possible, please telephone a GP practice during the afternoon for all test results. This is the period when the telephone lines and administrative staff are least busy and so best able to help.
Patientknowsbest (PKB) website
Did you know you can register with a website called PKB and look at many of your tests (especially blood tests) online?
Summary
We have described When should I ring my GP to get results. We hope it has been helpful.
