Investigations in primary care
After seeing the doctor or as part of your annual review you may be asked to have some further tests. This may involve an appointment with our nursing team or dropping in a sample or specimen to our reception team.
Samples
This may be a urine sample, a sputum or sometimes a stool (or poo) sample.
All specimens must be provided in a suitable container and marked clearly with name, date of birth and a date and reason for the specimen.
Urine samples must be in a white topped container.
Sputum samples are in a white topped container.
Stool samples in a blue topped container
Stool samples for blood go in a special container in a green bag.
Please drop these in the surgery before 4 pm to allow processing and for them to be transported to the laboratory.
People sometimes feel uncomfortable with this. Please feel reassured that our reception team are very familiar with this and it is all part of their working day.
Other investigations
It may be that you have another investigation such as an ultrasound or a CT scan. These requests go to the radiology or hospital department and they will then arrange an appointment for you at the hospital for the investigation. If you do not here within at least 3-4 weeks of the referral for investigation being made then please contact our secretary to let us know.
Xrays
It may be that you need an xray investigation. the doctor will give you a print out form during your appointment or ask you to collect this from the reception. This has a number across the top that you can ring to arrange the appointment unless the doctor has asked you to go immediately for this.
Blood test
If you have been invited to arrange blood tests these will be with the nurse or our health care assistant. Your doctor will have explained what tests have been requested at your appointment. If it is part of your annual review the nurse will be able to explain what we are checking at the appointment.
Results
Please do not worry if you have not heard from us after a routine investigation or test. After blood tests or X-ray investigations the surgery will not routinely contact you to tell you the results if they are normal.
If you are keen to find out your results then please call the surgery in the afternoon when reception is sometimes quieter. Typically we advise that you wait at least 10 working days after an X-ray and 3 working days after blood tests. Our reception staff are not qualified to comment on results but can relay the doctors comments to you.
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.
If you have an abnormal result we will contact you to arrange further investigation or treatment in a timely manner. Urgent issues will always be dealt with promptly. Results that may be abnormal but do not require an urgent response will be dealt with routinely.
