£5 for printout of blood results??: My partner... - Thyroid UK

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£5 for printout of blood results??

puncturedbicycle profile image

My partner has had those blood tests they do as part of your middle-aged health check and was told he has to pay £5 for a printout of the results - ??

He had the blood draw maybe last week and his appt to discuss results was this afternoon so these aren't old results. I thought recent results were free and older results could cost a nominal sum to cover the cost of printing.

I said he should tell them he's entitled to his results and they should be free of charge. Am I missing something?

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puncturedbicycle
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16 Replies
RedApple profile image
RedAppleAdministrator

I wonder how they will justify that if challenged, bearing in mind they're not supposed to make a profit from this.

RedApple profile image
RedAppleAdministrator in reply toRedApple

Info is on the main website, scroll down to 'Do I Have to Pay for Accessing my Records?' thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/NHS_In...

puncturedbicycle profile image
puncturedbicycle in reply toRedApple

Thanks RedApple. Well it does say £10 is the maximum cost for getting a copy so I guess they're in the clear in the letter (if not the spirit) of the law.

RedApple profile image
RedAppleAdministrator in reply topuncturedbicycle

If it's only one or maybe two sheets of paper, I can't see any need to charge more than £1 to cover paper and ink.

I was once told by a receptionist I could view on screen and write the info down myself for free, which is ok if it's just a couple of results like TSH, FT4 etc. Not practical for a long list of stuff though.

puncturedbicycle profile image
puncturedbicycle in reply toRedApple

Oh believe me I agree, but that is what that link says so although as you say this is not what it should cost they probably have grounds for arguing.

Anyway, he won't argue w them I'm sure! :-) He chooses his battles.

BadHare profile image
BadHare

Can you request them electronically via Patient Access?

puncturedbicycle profile image
puncturedbicycle in reply toBadHare

He goes to a different surgery so I don't know the details (and to be fair they are his results and I don't want to belabour the point) but I will ask.

RedApple profile image
RedAppleAdministrator in reply topuncturedbicycle

Patient access online was supposedly rolled out (NHS England only) a good couple of years ago now. You do have to apply / register, it's not automatic. I suspect some surgeries still haven't got their act together on this though.

BadHare profile image
BadHare in reply toRedApple

I am registered for making appointments & repeat prescriptions. I spotted an option for electronic information, & asked to register for this, but my surgery doesn't offer the facility yet. I noticed a look of affront on the receptionists face. Why they think our personal information should not be readily shared with us, I cannot understand.

They'll be back to writing in latin as a way to be obstructive next, thank heavens for Google translate!

MMaud profile image
MMaud

I have access to my Patient Record, which is effectively the coded record. Most things are recorded on NHS medical records in a consistent format, so that data mining is simple.

In having this, I can see all my appointments, decisions arrived at during the appointment, all test results and anything prescribed to me. What it doesn't show me is any detailed free-format my Doc might have made about the consultation, or any letters written or received. I do receive, by post, copies of any referral letters or Consultant correspondence, following a hospital appointment.

The big wins are having fast access to test results, rather then having to phone the surgery and have all that hanging on, and secondly, I can peruse things, including test results, in my own good time.

It's well worth considering, in my view.

Sweetart profile image
Sweetart

I have just applied for my blood test to be put on patient line had to fill in and sign a form ,still waiting it can take up to 21 days to view online, I thaught I read some where that it had been rolled out nationally ,I too have had odd looks from the receptionist as if I was plotting some thing evil .

Bluecat101 profile image
Bluecat101

My surgery charges well for Doctor Letter, but didnt for pages of results - but infuriated me first by saying 'they wd have to ask doctor first'. But l said l am entitled to my records. Got them few days later.

puncturedbicycle profile image
puncturedbicycle in reply toBluecat101

I suspect they need to run your results by a doctor just to confirm anything untoward has been made note of (ie they don't give you results that might distress you without having first spoken to you). In my surgery this is a formality and they do it before they give me every set of results. I appreciate that if your surgery is unhelpful it can look sinister but I have no trouble getting copies of my records and they still say a doctor has to have seen them first.

Bluecat101 profile image
Bluecat101 in reply topuncturedbicycle

l dont trust Medical prof at all, and have worked in it before too. Doctors are now paid not to do certain tests, and are well practised at fobbing off

Well I think it costs only £10 for ALL your electronic records so you could really annoy them for an extra fiver.

SeasideSusie profile image
SeasideSusieRemembering in reply toAngel_of_the_North

My thoughts exactly Angel_of_the_North . I'd do it just to be bl**dy awkward!

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