Test Results

Test and investigation results are normally passed on and explained to you by the doctor or nurse at your next appointment. If you speak to a receptionist, you can be told if the results have been returned by the hospital or laboratory, and the doctor's comments about the test result can be passed on to you.

The receptionists are not able to explain the meaning of results, however, they can normally pass on information about a test result to the person the test relates to, and not a third party.

After a test result has been received, you may be contacted by our telephonist team to make an appointment or to collect a prescription. 

You are able to see the results of any test if you subscribe to our on-line services where you can order repeat prescriptions, book appointments , see test results and a summary of your care record.

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 child's hand will be anaesthetised (numbed) with a special cream before the sample is taken.

Our blood appointments must be done before 16:00pm and are usually back the next day.

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 a 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.