Blood Test Results.

[Desanthony]

Some of you will remember it took me a month to get blood test results because in the first instance the Doc who arranged them wanted to give me the results. Made about 3 appointments which were cancelled because he changed his working days or whatever so eventually decided that just to get the results - as my PSA test results were in there I would take an appointment with some one else - a locum as it happened. That was cancelled as the locum caught Covid. So eventually got an appointment with another Dr. all results OK. She suggested one more test which I had a week ago last Monday. Kept forgetting to ring up for the result. Eventually went to the surgery on Wednesday and they said they didn't have it - I went to the surgery in town as that's where I was - presumed they would just have to look it up. No had to go to the surgery in our village as that's where I am registered ! Coming home there was a large accident so took me a long time to drive the 1 mile + home - I could have walked quicker! Rang the village surgery - they were shut - forgot they shut Wednesday pm. Rang them yesterday afternoon they said they would have to ask the Dr if they could give me the results and let me know later. Just before 5 had a call to say they would have the results ready for me this afternoon. Called up at the village surgery this afternoon - the result was down in the surgery in town - why the heck they couldn't just tell me the result I don't know?!!! As you can imagine a lot of sharp intakes of breath. So the Friday afternoon traffic made the journey almost as long as the journey on Wednesday but I got my results - at last! Anyway, I now know my B12 is fine but folate count is a tad low by 0.5. So think I am OK. Just as well as if there had been a problem it may have become a bigger problem by now!

It makes me wonder why I bother to go to the Dr's and don't just get these done privately and then I remember its because I would have to get a referral from the GP and they won't do that by phone call here any more! My neighbour had to wait longer to get a referral from the GP (waited 3 weeks for the referral appointment to have a cataract operation done privately) than he actually waited to the see the surgeon and have the operation - after his GP appointment on the Monday he called the hospital made a consultation appointment for that Wednesday and had the operation on the Saturday.

Having a very weak G&T now.

Have an enjoyable weekend everyone.

[Autumn_Leaves]

Can’t you access your blood test results on the NHS app? I can see mine as soon as the results are back. Ring your surgery and ask if they have that service available for patients.

[Desanthony in reply to Autumn_Leaves]

No. we don't have the NHS App in Wales.

[Buzby62 in reply to Desanthony]

We do but it doesn’t have full functionality yet. You can register for Patients Know Best which is part of the NHS app in England and will be in Wales in the future.

You register using your NHS login details but are then asked to create a new separate password for PKB to log in directly in future. Works great for me and my wife. I’ve had blood tests 9am and an email that they’re on the system by 12:30

Here’s the link patientsknowbest.com

Let us know how you get on.

[Desanthony in reply to Buzby62]

We've done that but it's not in use in our area.

[Buzby62 in reply to Desanthony]

Must be down to the Health Board then, I’m in Swansea Bay. My wife and I are in different surgeries, neither have links to the NHS Wales app or PKB yet. I registered on PKB over a year ago but seen nothing for about 6 months then an email appeared out of the blue and historic results where loaded and ever since it works well. My wife registered more recently and all worked well from day one. We see blood test results in real time and any consultant letters to GP when sent. The whole reason I did this was to avoid the pain of ringing my surgery, they are too busy answering multiple calls for things they don’t get right first time.

[Buzby62 in reply to Desanthony]

Another link for you app.nhs.wales/login

[dedeottie in reply to Desanthony]

Ridiculous isn’t it! I am in Wales , I spent ages downloading app etc only to find out Wales hadn’t signed up. I find it very frustrating. X

[jeanjeannie50 in reply to Autumn_Leaves]

Yes, I look up my blood test results on the NHS app too.

[Nerja2012]

I'll have one as well, my heads going round after reading that 🤣 .

[Rainfern]

That shouldn’t happen. Full stop. Nor should very weak G&Ts, so here’s an imaginary full glass 🥂and sympathies

[Desanthony in reply to Rainfern]

thank you!

[CDreamer]

What a saga - I think I would have lost the will to live! Hope you enjoyed your G&T - well deserved.

Why don’t Wales have the NHS app? Surely surgeries in Wales have some sort of internet access such as Patient’s Know Best through which you can access your results?

You shouldn’t need to talk to a doctor, the only time we speak to a doctor is on the phone, is if there is a problem which the monitoring GP red flags - then they ring us.

[dedeottie in reply to CDreamer]

I have tried patients know best. Only some surgeries have accessed that. Mine has not and I don’t exactly live in a backwater. I live in Cardiff! X

[Desanthony in reply to dedeottie]

There's no hope for us then - though I hope I am mistaken.

[Buzby62 in reply to dedeottie]

Don’t think it’s down to the surgery, see my reply to Des above

[Desanthony in reply to CDreamer]

Since Covid our surgery does nothing on the telephone apart from make appointments. It's quite stupid because there are lots of things that can be done just as well and quicker - for both patients and Docs on the phone.

[Peony4575]

At our Nuffield Hospital you pay £35 for one of their private GPS to fill the form in and you can have your blood tests privately without involving your GP. Equally you can see one of their GPS for an appointment £130 near here. Also have them at Spire . And they can refer you to a private consultant , if the delay in seeing your own GP is unacceptable . Yes we shouldn’t have to, but if able sometimes it’s less hassle

[secondtry]

I arrange private blood tests through my Naturopath.

[Desanthony in reply to secondtry]

that's interesting.

[pusillanimous]

I can't see why they can't just look them up on the computer. I had an electrolytes test ordered by the GP and I asked the phlebotomist to have the results sent to my cardiologist as well as my GP. The GP phoned me and told me there was no problem. When I saw the Cardio a month later I asked if he had been sent the results, he looked in my file, they were not there, but he said no problem, I can just call them up - they came through in minutes.

[oscarfox49]

It should never be like that. I live in France. I go for a blood test at 8 a.m. and usually the results in detail are emailed to me later that day or first thing the next morning, the same time as the doctor receives them in his or her email. If the French health system can do this, why not in other countries too?

[Desanthony in reply to oscarfox49]

Yes I know a question I have asked myself frequently.

[Ppiman in reply to oscarfox49]

The NHS has much that needs to change. The health ombudsman has just concluded that the relationships between medical staff are "toxic", for example (The Times, Saturday, 19/11/23). Add that to the funding crisis and, well, words defeat me.

Steve

[Ppiman]

You made a mistake there. The G&T should have been a double. And you need to use GB Gin, made of the farm where the potatoes are grown for it in Herefordshire. There is none better.

I'm glad your results are fine. If you have the NHS app on your phone, you should be able to see them immediately without phoning your surgery. From your description, it sounds as if these were not posted online - which is a surprise.

Steve

[Desanthony in reply to Ppiman]

I will look out for that gin. We do not have the NHS App in Wales.

[KMRobbo]

Why dont you go on the NHS app? I can see all my blood test results and all the medication I have been prescribed.

[CDreamer in reply to KMRobbo]

That question was already replied to - not available in Wales.

[Desanthony in reply to KMRobbo]

NHS App is not available in Wales. Health is one of the devolved responsibilites since the 1997 devolution ballot.

[Qualipop]

That's just crazy. My GP has 3 surgeries all on the same computer system so they all have your full records.

[Desanthony in reply to Qualipop]

Exactly! We have two surgeries and I would imagine they are on the same system. Who knows maybe not!

[Cha275rL]

My God! Think you should be having a STRONG G &T after that fiasco. That’s unacceptable.