Blood test

[Carolsos]

I have just rang up the doctors to try and book a blood test, but my appointment is a week on Friday. Just found out today that I have to go to the doctors for a blood test because the hospital is telling the doctors to do all blood tests instead off the hospital! I am pleased I rang up as was going to go to the hospital if I couldn't get in. Has anyone else heard this? I have asked for some leflumomide as will run out before the blood test and am hoping to get some on Friday. The drs did say they would send an appointment, but nothing came so hence I rang them. Thanks for listening. Take care everyone 😉

[springcross]

I do have blood tests taken at the hospital if I have an appointment to see the Rheumy doctor but if not, it's the health centre but that's the way it has always been for me.

[KittyJ]

I’ve always had blood tests at my GP surgery unless I have a rheumy appointment then they do one at the hospital whilst I’m there.

[Lolabridge]

I had my last blood test 10 days ago at my local community hospital but for the one next week I’m going to have it at my GP surgery. I understand they are no longer being offered at the local community hospital.

[Summerrain14]

My blood tests are done in the same way as Springcross. 😊

[Carolsos]

I normally go to the drs but since covid the appointment have been hit and miss!

[Dspooky01]

Although I’ve just had my blood test at the GP, I still have to have one for the hospital. I’m booked in for a fortnights time at a nearby minor injuries hospital.

[LinaM]

My blood tests were always done at GP surgery until covid when they stopped for 6 months ! Really seems to be the luck of the draw these days !

[Biofreak]

Yes Carolsos. In my area ( Greater Manchester) all hospital clinics/hospital blood tests have been cancelled since the original lockdown. I have only had one blood test at the GPs since February.

[Pulfs]

I have all my monthly blood tests done at GP surgery always have done and been no problems during these difficult times .

[medway-lady]

Same here its drive thro too !

[Leics]

My rheumatology team have always just given me some forms to take away with me and our GP surgery has a specific day when they do hospital bloods. Most tests are routine for R.A. monitoring so it’s never been a problem. I don’t know what’s going on at the moment though because I haven’t had a blood test since November last year lol. I used to work in pathology at the hospital and all GP and hospital bloods end up in the same place so it’s not an issue at all. Generally the GP gets a copy of the results anyway not that they ever look at them lol. So technically if it’s just for monitoring they’ll be done at the same place generally on the same day or within 24 hrs. So doesn’t matter where you have the blood taken it will go to the same pathology lab it always has.

[Lizard28]

My GP called me to have blood tests done since the lockdown, it showed my white blood cells are low so I keep getting another call every month now from them. I had to go to our nearest hospital before lockdown so this is much easier, only thing is the receptionist never really tells me the results, I just wait till I see the nurse then question her.

[bubblyalex in reply to Lizard28]

You can ask for the results to be emailed to you. Mine are sent to me every time now.

[Lizard28 in reply to bubblyalex]

I didn’t know that, mine is only a tiny surgery, I did worry for a month wondering what was wrong with my bloods. To be honest I don’t know where all the doctors have gone. I’ve been three times for bloods, they have taken the chairs away from waiting room and my surgery has only two rooms, one for doctor and one for nurse, I’ve never seen a doctor yet. They must be working from home. I wonder if anyone has seen a doctor f2f through all this madness. Thanks for that info though.

[bubblyalex in reply to Lizard28]

I have seen my GP and the nurses but yes the surgery is rather deserted and no chairs etc. I have to go at an assigned time and be checked and they PPE up. Right now they come to me.

You have to ask for your Blood test results to be emailed ... in some cases insist... can you email your doc/surgery? Better if you can email them to make the request formal. Freedom of information/Data protection and all that jazz.

“...How can I access my health records?

You can sign up to GP online services to view parts of your GP record (Summary Care Record) including information about medication, allergies, vaccinations, previous illnesses and test results. The service is free and available to everyone who is registered with a GP.

However, if this option is not available to you, you may need to ask your doctor for access to your medical records to get copies of your test results...”

[Lizard28 in reply to bubblyalex]

They did try to make us go online but to be honest it just doesn’t work, I used to be able to order prescriptions online and book appointments then they changed the system and nothing works, the receptionist keeps saying just phone us when I ask why I can’t get online anymore. I feel a bit stupid after asking three times. Don’t think she knows either so I gave up, it would be great to see this information. Don’t think we can email our doctors either but we can always get through to the receptionist and she is very nice but never really tells me anything. 🙄 I will try harder this time when I go to give more bloods next week. I only ever get as far as the nurses door after I’ve put gloves etc on.

[bubblyalex in reply to Lizard28]

The nurse ought to be able to help you get them emailed to you. The receptionist just needs the approval from the med team. I use the app Patient Access. You can’t make appointments through it right now but everything else works though it never gives me blood test results.

It is great to be able to keep an eye on the levels going up down or sideways. Means we can do more to help ourselves I think. I also email them to my rheumy team... much quicker than going through the usual NHS routes.