Just wondered if anyone else has problems getting blood tests done at their GP surgery.
I went to mine to ask for a hba1c test( I am type 2 diabetic) and my ESR test. The receptionist questioned me " why do you want that, who said you could have that, which doctor?" She finally agreed and then when I went for my appointment with the phlebotomist I checked with her as to what she was doing. Her answer was hba1c. I told her I had asked for ESR as well so she went off to reception to check. She came back 5 minutes later saying the receptionists had said no but fortunately my doctor came past and she asked her. The doctor said "yes, of course" and it was allowed. Why was it so much of a problem. My doctor had told me 6 months before that if I was worried to get an ESR test!
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Koalajane
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OH dear, these receptionists really are a pain...not needed when we already have pain!....if mine gets like that at the surgery, I would let my doctor know so at least they can re-educate the dragons!.....I know they have a job to do....but they are not doctors...hope the results are good...keep us posted....
So reassuring the Reception Staff are running the NHS! 🤬
I’d be inclined to raise it with the Practice Manager, non medical trained staff can’t dictate what Blood Tests you require.
For some reason in Wales they don’t do ESR at GP Surgery & l get my PV (Plasma Viscosity) done instead but when l go to the hospital they do ESR/PV!
Definitely take it up with the Practice Manager or put it in a letter, always has more effect!
Er, no. That’s not safe that an untrained person is making clinical judgements and the practice manager should know. You could also ask your GP to put in your notes that you can have these tests if you feel they are needed.
Mine were/are okay with most, but they seemed to have a thing about CRP when I still had GCA....not sure whether it was policy not to do it, but I’d ask for both and only ESR would be tested. Same thing at two different surgeries, so could have been local hospital directive!
But as others have said, it’s not up to receptionist! But it may well be up to financial constraints.
When did the receptionist get her medical qualifications?
Nice to know that they have so much power - and I'd be filing a complaint.
On my last blood test with a different Doctor due to the one who I had been seeing for the last year has left. Anyway he had only requested the CRP test and not the ESR for some reason which I will take up with him on my next review. They seem to think that it isn't necessary. However I am pleased to say that my CRP result was below 1 whether that's a good thing or not? Good luck KoalaJane.
Interestingly enough I had blood tests last week, three month check. The nurse was new and said you are not booked in for any. She then went through several different pages on the computer and she turned up with six tests, it seemed from various different screens, goodness knows what they are as I have not had the results yet. Luckily the receptionists do not seem to understand blood tests so I managed to get to the phlebotomist.
Where I live only CRP (apparently preferred) or ESR can be done at the same time, although I'm sure when I was first diagnosed both tests were run. They must restrict the repeat tests for monitoring to only one for financial reasons.
But the daft thing is that different things work for different people. My CRP has only once been raised at all - due to an episode of a/f I suspect. My ESR has only once (relatively recently) been out of "normal range" - but we now know it has been raised for ME. It hovered around 16-18 for some weeks. But that is "normal" so no-one reacted to it. MY normal is about 4-7.
If I were still seeing my doctor every three months I was going to suggest we alternate the tests, but as she only wants me to go in (for the PMR) once a year now that wouldn't really be helpful. It's not the doctor's choice, it's what's permitted by the Health Authority which under our present government is in all respects in money saving, not quality of life saving, mode.
They do not do blood tests at my surgery and l have to go into town for them,but l have not had one for over six months now,things have gone down hill at my surgery,or as Heron has said it must be the Health Authority saving money.
I am a bit worried they are going to stop doing blood tests at my local surgery as they have big adverts saying you can get your blood test done at the local hospital which is some way away.
Or they want to get rid of the blood test nurses to save money! We can all pay for travel costs to the hospital instead, walk-in is drive a long way in! . The queue there is massive so other surgeries probably have the same idea.
That is likely to happen if everyone takes the option - but those who can't do it need to make their voice heard. It is a lot more efficient and the blood tests do turn out better all too often!
I am not sure how much they listen to patients, perhaps they do and that is why everyone keeps leaving, although I have my suspicions it is one of the doctors causing the mass exeat. One nurse joined in May and has already left because she found it too much like hard work!
You are right, I was told by my local pleb dept. that all surgeries have the option to do blood tests still in the morning and the afternoon, but most force everyone into certain days or morning time slots because it costs the surgery money for each pick up , and it costs the surgery money if blood tests are ordered by and done by them them instead of by your specialists or the clinics, it's why they try to get you to go to the hospital instead.
I wrote a longer comment on the issue of blood tests below if you are interested.
Ahh that makes sense. My surgery seems to just have certain days for bloods. Also as ESR has got to be checked by the lab fairly quickly they cannot leave the blood in a refrigerator overnight it must be picked up. They have definitely been reducing the amount of blood tests they do it seems.
Plasma viscosity and CRP in Scotland. My GP is ace even takes the blood herself and is happy to add other tests if I ask, e.g. Cholesterol, HDL and LDL at last visit.
When I queried as to why my appointment with my Rhuemy was 8 weeks away and he said he wanted to see me in 4 , the appointments clerk told me it wasn't up to the doctors to decide when to see their patients. A swift letter of complaint was made, I saw him in 4 weeks and hopefully the really nasty clerk was retrained.
You are lucky to get blood tests done at your local surgery. Our surgery does not generally do blood tests. I have to get to my local hospital which is half an hour away by bus. Fortunately my Consultant gave me a supply of forms for CRP and ESR. So I am alright once I get there.
At my surgery you have to see a Dr first to who has to request the test. You can then choose where to go to have the test, the GP surgery as that is normally nearest to where you live, and wait a couple of weeks for an appointment or opt for nearest hospital which you can go to immediately and stand in line. This is normally the quickest way so I usually opt for that.
They used to take blood tests at the health centre which was opposite my doctors surgery,then a couple of years ago they stopped that and we had to go to the local hospital.This has now been changed to the town centre,about six miles away,very inconvenient for elderly or disabled people.There are still some surgeries that take blood tests but l think that they too are going to stop.Things are certainly changing and not for the better.
Hi sorry to hear you have had problems. I am in year two of PMR/GCA and by GP orders have blood tests every 5 weeks to check ESR and CRP have not had a problem. Understood from my GP it is necessary. Speak to your GP or write these are necessary checks on your conditions and they should be supporting you.
Good luck moving forward
2yrs with PMR/GCA I have a blood test every month and CRP and ESR done each time. Blood sugars every 3 months.
Unfortunately, the issues, and attached stress, with organising routine blood tests which have been recommended by your GP or specialist to vitally monitor your health are , and will continue to be , if you pardon the pun, like getting blood out of a stone under the present health system.
Practices are run and owned by GPs and health manager partners , and as much as they would like to appear to put the patient first, that is usually only the case if the care fits in with their budget limitations and constraints.
Blood tests , even the simplest diagnostic ones like ESR and CRP , cost them money, this is why their unwritten policy is to try to take blood tests when they deem it absolutely necessary , when an issue comes up or new symptoms mean you end up at the surgery.
It is also why , many GP appointments are wasted and their clinics overburdened , because by only taking a few blood tests at a time, starting with the cheapest and commonest denominators first, it can take two, three, four call backs to surgery before you get a diagnosis or referral.
If you look at NICE and Local Health Board guidelines for different illnesses you will find this is also standard practise in hospitals and big clinics too. And it is why you always get the cheapest rather than the most effective drug treatments first. There is diagnosis and drug protocol set in place to recommend it.
Receptionists can seem like dragons , some often are, and they often seem like they are poking their noses into our medical business in a way they are not allowed to, or are not trained for, therefore delaying our care and causing stress.
But they don't take this action ( on the whole,) by their sole decision.
I am afraid it is usually based on Practice policies to try and reduce costs and passed down to them from Practice managers, and as much as they will plead ignorance to this action , if your GP is one of the Practice Share Holders , it is based on rules they have taken part in creating.
We are often only , "shooting the messenger ", when we complain about them and their refusal to book appointments, tests or organise letters.
Unfortunately, it also means that the issue with getting your rights and tests done will continue, and as funds are more stretched , potentially get worse in the future. Ironically, adding to the illness aggravating stress that they want us to reduce!
In other words, you know you need the tests , the letters, the referrals , you have to be your own health advocate, know your rights , ask politely ( never show a sign of anger or they will deem you a anxiety ridden , violent basketcase and put all your symptoms down to that!) and when you are refused , politely tell them why you have a right for things and who specifically told you to get the job done.
It is terrible, it is humiliating, it is stress creating and frustrating , but unfortunately, it is the state of getting medical care in todays health system.
And I am afraid , it will be like this for sometime to come, keeping an eye on your health care and good records of everything being done has become a matter of necessity these days rather than a choice.
I don't let them get away with it - just like this morning when I took the car in for work on it. I specifically asked yesterday if I would be run home so didn't go dressed for a 25 minute walk at temps about freezing. The service guy told me to go over to the reception desk where they'd get someone. The cheeky creature informed me "We don't do that - the bus stop is ..." I didn't argue - I went back to the service desk...
Yes, our garage does that too, they have seen me in various levels of undress and , on my good days when I can work, some unusual sights like safety goggles, velvet dress and a blow torch , and once covered in clingfilm ( don't ask!!)
We even get a courtesy car now too, delivered to the door because they know that I am ill and may need to go places in an emergency while the car is in.
Definitely, worth asking about that at your local garage if they are good and you know them well, it has been a life saver . They don't always tell you about their spare cars but many of them have them and they don't charge for it.
If you ever have an issue with faulty phones or the internet you get priority if you tell them about your medical issues and need to have access to the phone for the doctor and emergencies. So far, never waited more than 24 hours to get stuff fixed.
I have trouble with cars at the moment as I have just had a hip op done. I rely on others. I have had a car leant in the last though for free. I am lucky that I have a company phone line and a home phone line, the company one is supposed to have instant cover!! It means I have two broadbands too. It did go wrong when some yobbos stole a load of cabling from the exchange they dug up the pavement for fifty yards.
I did get my ESR done and have had it done with other blood tests again today as I now have macular oedema which could be caused by inflammation levels being high or anaemia. Seeing doctor for results and if it is to do with inflammation levels I will be making sure I can have regular ESR tests and that it is clearly written on my notes.
Some surgeries seem to be such hard work ! Mine is fantastic and I get a monthly test, as I have to have my liver function and kidneys checked but the phlebotomist just asked which others I need with those. I think I have a very good surgery, whereas my son in law keeps getting requests to see his go but they then won’t give him an appointment- receptionist is now doing triage 🤔
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Asking for ESR & CRP numbers
ESR/CRP
What would you have done?
Rheumatologist appointment and confirmed disgnosis
