Hi!I'm new and come from abroad.I've been living in the Uk for more than 2 years and I had a lot of problems with my health.I was many times at the GP (they are not so helpful) so I finally got an appointment for a blood test and ultrasound scan.....but the GP only told me that "you will have a blood test and than come and see me" and she literally kicked me out from the surgery.So what now?Somebody knows how is it going here?I have the forms for the tests including the hospital opening time...I'll go there they take my blood and then what?This part is not so clear.when can i go back to the GP or the hospital will tell me the result ot they will send the result to the GP and hopefully she will let me know?
I hope you can help me
thank you in advance
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Ritka
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Rita, can you turn up at the hospital any time or do you have to make an appointment?
I imagine the person who takes your blood at the hospital will tell you what to do next - like how many days to wait for the results to go to your doctor and that will give you an idea of when you should make your appointment to go and speak to your doctor.
Normally when I have a blood test I am told to leave it for about a week then phone for the results but when I was diagnosed with thyroid problems the bloods were taken at the surgery and sent off and my doctor phoned me the next day to tell me what was happening next. So sometimes it depends on what they find.
Yes - you go to the hospital phlebotomy unit (sometimes in the pathology section) and get the blood drawn. Then, somewhere between a few hours and several days later the results will be available to your GP. (I'd guess that in most parts of the country, the pathology lab will put the results into the computer system and they will immediately be available to the GP. However, it is not impossible that paper still has to be sent in some cases.)
You can find the results out by having another appointment with your GP - though some surgeries will let you know your results if you drop in or even (if really lucky) on the phone. Usually results will not be passed on to you until a GP has actually seen them. Unless the results are dramatically worrying, the GP will almost certainly not bother contacting you.
The legalities of access to records (and blood test results do count as your records) may be found here:
According to this form it says "please take this form with you when you attend to give blood or deliver sample directly to the lab" so i would say I can turn up any time because after this sentence there is the hospital's opening time and it's not written I have to make an appointment.
I think I'm going to ask another appointment with the GP after the test.
thank you very much for your reply it was very useful!!!!
Sometimes you can make an appointment for the blood draw, sometimes not. And if not, you might have to wait quite a while because people who have been fasting or are being testing for some recognised things (e.g. those on warfarin) are expected to be seen first and would usually have an appointment.
In my opinion it is probably a good idea to have your blood drawn early in the day - and to do so each time you have a test. This is because TSH is highest in the early morning and drops through the day. So if the blood is drawn later then it might look better than it really is!
Try to have your blood test as early as possible as, if it is thyroid gland related, the TSH is highest then. TSH means thyroid stimulating hormone and you may also have T4 and T3 done too. Sometimes they only do the TSH and a diagnosis is made depending on the level. You can ask the phlebotomist what tests you are having.
I took a test form to the hospital lab one time (pathology/phlebotomy dept) the form was provided by the GP and I waited to see a nurse - but mostly they draw blood at my GP surgery (unless really busy) you then book an appointment in about a week or so to know the results (unless they ring you if something is obvious).
Having a blood form means you can tell what they're testing for. Thyroid tests tend to be for TSH, perhaps FT4 and FT3 and sometimes TPO Ab & other antibodies. I go as early as possible (especially if you are told to have a 'fasting test' i.e. not eating for 12 hours beforehand e.g. for diabetes, cholestrol and other tests, not just Thyroid).
If you are already on Thyroid hormone medication (such as Levothyroxine) it is suggested not to take your dose until after the test as it may create a false high reading, if taken right before the test. Hope this helps, Jane
(as others have said above! - I was too slow replying!)
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