If you have online access to your records you will be able to see test results without having to contact the surgery.

We do not contact patients when their test results are normal but, for those without online access who want to know what their results were, please ring the surgery between 09:00 and 13:00 to obtain these.  Most tests are available after 2 days but some tests take longer.  The receptionist can only give you the message attached to the result as authorised by the doctor.  They will not be able to discuss the results further.

Results can only be given to the patient who has had the tests done and only with the doctor’s approval.  If you have any queries about your results discuss them with the doctor via a telephone appointment. 

You do not need to come to see the doctor for test results unless we contact you and ask you to make an appointment.

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.

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 an 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.