Test results

Getting your test results

If your test results show that you need more tests or treatment, we will contact you.

Please wait at least 7 days before obtaining your test results.

Once a doctor has reviewed your test results, you can view them:

  • in your NHS account (through the NHS website or NHS App)
  • in your Patient Access account
  • phone or visit us between after 2pm and we will tell you what the results are

Questions about your results

If you want to talk to someone about your results, please contact the practice via telephone or online consultation, and someone will be in touch.

Test Information

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 website.

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.

You can find out more about blood tests, their purpose and the way they are performed on the NHS website.

A blood test is a common laboratory analysis performed on a blood sample. Here are the key points:

Purpose:
Blood tests are conducted to:
– Check General Health: Assess overall health and detect any abnormalities.
– Diagnose Conditions: Investigate symptoms and identify specific conditions.
– Monitor Treatment: Evaluate how well a condition is being managed or treated.

Procedure: A healthcare professional (such as a GP, nurse, or specialist) will:
– Locate a Vein: Usually from the inside of your elbow.
– Collect Blood: Using a needle, they’ll draw a small amount of blood.
– Alternative Methods: Sometimes blood is taken from the wrist or via a finger-prick test.
– Tourniquet: A soft strap may be used to make blood collection easier.
– Discomfort: You’ll feel a scratch as the needle goes in, which may be slightly uncomfortable.

Afterward: You’ll receive cotton wool or a plaster to cover the area where blood was taken. Bruising or swelling may occur but should resolve in a few days.

Preparation: Your healthcare provider will guide you if any specific preparation is needed.
For some tests, you may need to:
– Fast: Avoid eating or drinking (except water) before the test.
– Stop Certain Medications: Temporarily discontinue medications like anticoagulants.

Results:You’ll typically receive your blood test results within a few days to a few weeks.
If shared with your GP surgery, you may view them in your GP health record online.

Book a Blood Test

Blood Test Appointments

There are several ways to book a blood test:

1. At the practice

  • Appointments are available at both Hedge End Medical Centre site and Blackthorn Health Centre site.
    Please contact reception to book.

2. At the Hub (Lowford)

  • Evening and weekend appointments are available at the Hub.
    These can be booked by calling reception.

3. At Local Hospitals

Appointments are available Monday to Friday, often with next-day availability, at:

  • Southampton General Hospital
  • Romsey Hospital
  • Lymington Hospital

You can book hospital appointments:

4. Urgent Blood Tests

If your clinician has identified your blood test as clinically urgent, they will usually arrange it for you.
If it hasn’t been booked, please speak to a receptionist who will check your notes and help you arrange a clinically urgent appointment if appropriate.

5. Additional Support for Blue Badge Holders & Frail Patients

If you are a Blue Badge holder or are identified as severely frail in your medical records, we offer a small number of appointments that can be booked up to a week in advance. Please contact reception and let us know your circumstances.

FAQs

You will always need a form generated for the test, but as long as it is on your medical records, you don’t need to bring the printed one with you – APART FROM if you have an appointment at Romsey or Lymington you will need to take the form. You can ask reception to print it for you to take to your appointment.
Please call reception and mention this and they will try to find you an appropriate appointment.
We generally ask patients not to come to the reception desk to book blood test appointments, but if you have exceptional circumstances, you can ask at reception. If we have a large queue at the time you arrive, we may ask you to step to one side so we can prioritise patients who are checking in for their appointment.
We offer longer appointments for patients who have, for example, a Learning Disability, or those who have severe dementia – please mention this when you call for an appointment. If you are in a wheelchair, please mention this on booking and we will try to accommodate you in a room that has easy access.
If your notes record that you are housebound, please call us and we will make a referral to the Community Care Team who will make a home visit to take the bloods. We are not able to specify what day this will be, although if you need a carer to be at home to allow access to the property, please mention this when you talk to the reception team.
You will need to get the results from the requesting organisation. If your consultant requested the results, you will need to call them.
Most blood results are available 2-3 working days after the test has been taken. If the results are not available after a week, please speak to the requestor.
www.nhs.uk or https://labtestsonline.org.uk/tests-index may help you understand the results.

If you have questions you need to ask a clinician, you should approach the organisation that requested the test. If that is HEMC or Blackthorn, you can submit an admin eConsult asking to discuss the results.

If you are unable to use eConsult, please call us and our reception team will complete a request on your behalf.
If you are able to access the blood tests at Southampton General, or one of the other hospital sites, there is always availability. We do recognise though that not all patients will find this convenient or possible.

We have three main challenges when it comes to the provision of blood test appointments – space to provide the appointments, transport to take the samples to the laboratory, and sufficient funding to be able to staff the service.

Room space: for the last 6 years, we have had significant pressure on room space with the majority of days having no space clinical rooms. We have one phlebotomy room which is used in the mornings. The room is not generally used after 2pm (see “specimen transport”).

Specimen transport: We currently have two opportunities each day to send specimens to the laboratory – 11am and 2.30pm. Samples cannot be kept overnight as they degrade. There is currently no evening provision, but our Primary Care Network (PCN) is enquiring as to whether it might be possible to provide evening specimen transport.

Funding: Phlebotomy is an “Enhanced Service” – i.e. one that is commissioned outside of our core contract. We are paid on activity, so we receive a set amount of funding per successful phlebotomy appointment (we do not get paid anything for patients who do not attend, and do not get paid extra for appointments which take longer than others). We need to do an analysis to ensure we are covering costs going forwards before we consider increasing provision. If we are able to increase provision, we can only do it if we have specimen transport in place for evening collections as we do not have room space at other times of the day.

Pathology Samples

If the doctor or nurse has asked you to provide a pathology sample e.g. urine, stool, sputum, these must be left at reception before 11.00am, Monday – Friday.