Only TSH: My daughter lives in Kent and her GP... - Thyroid UK

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Only TSH

Goldengirl01 profile image
21 Replies

My daughter lives in Kent and her GP said they will only request TSH for bloods taken so I said that is absolutely no good at all it won’t tell you anything, you need to change your GP, she said she has but they all seem to say the same thing in her area. I’m sure she has thyroid problems and she has told her GP about me and it running in the family but it makes no difference. I suggested getting it done with a home kit so we will see if she does. She has said she’s asked at reception for a print out of previous bloods at GP’s reception and was told she has to make an appt with GP, how rediculous is that, it’s wasting another appt slot. Some GP’s surgeries make it as difficult as possible for information and tests. What good is just doing TSH?

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21 Replies
SlowDragon profile image
SlowDragonAdministrator

She is legally entitled to printed copies of blood test results (but GP has to see test results first)

UK GP practices are supposed to offer online access for blood test results. Ring and ask if this is available and apply to do so if possible, if it is you may need "enhanced access" to see blood results.

In reality many GP surgeries do not have blood test results online yet

Alternatively she can ring receptionist and request printed copies of results. Allow couple of days and then go and pick up.

Make sure to get vitamins tested too.

Goldengirl01 profile image
Goldengirl01 in reply toSlowDragon

Sge did ask receptionist who said no you have to make an appt with the dr first even though he has seen them already

Lora7again profile image
Lora7again

Unfortunately they are only following NHS guide lines. If they test the TSH and it is not within range they will then test T4. I have been suffering from Graves' for 12 years and I recently was admitted to hospital with a thyroid storm and A & E just tested the TSH. Went to the Gp to request a more detailed test he asked for TSH, T4, T3 and antibodies ... the lab decided to test just TSH and do a liver function test and a cholesterol test which were all normal even though I have antibodies of 4000 and a multi nodular goitre. She will have to pay for a private blood test like have to I'm afraid.

Lora7again profile image
Lora7again in reply toLora7again

Also I log into my surgery to view my medical records and blood results ... she should ask about this because she is entitled to all her blood results because it is the law.

Goldengirl01 profile image
Goldengirl01 in reply toLora7again

They dont allow it hence dr appt

Goldengirl01 profile image
Goldengirl01 in reply toLora7again

What I'm saying is she can have them but she has to make an appt for the dr to give them to her

SeasideSusie profile image
SeasideSusieRemembering in reply toGoldengirl01

I am in Wales and we don't have online access to anything here.

My surgery used to give print outs on request, just ask the receptionist and as long as a doctor had seen them then you got them immediately.

The policy has recently changed (appears to be my fault actually :( ). You can request your results, your request is then passed by the GP, the GP has to give permission for you to have your results, then they can be printed and you can have them. You still get them (unless there is a problem and they wish to discuss this with you at an appointment) but it's a more long-winded process now.

Maybe your daughter could ask the receptionist "Will you please ask the doctor for permission for me to have a print out of my results, it seems a shame to waste an appointment just to pick them up. I can pop by on XXXday to pick them up if that's convenient".

Goldengirl01 profile image
Goldengirl01 in reply toSeasideSusie

Hi susie it's one of those places where you cant get past the receptionist they all appear the same. She asked if they could ask the dr for a printout and the answer is the same "no, you have to make an appointment with the dr"

SeasideSusie profile image
SeasideSusieRemembering in reply toGoldengirl01

It's understandable if there are any abnormal results which the GP needs to see the patient to discuss, but if results are normal it just seems to be an utterly stupid waste of an appointment. I can envisage the conversation going like this:

Patient: Good morning doctor, I've come to collect a print out of my results.

GP: They're normal.

Patient: OK, that's good, can I have a print out please?

GP: Why?

Patient: Because I'd like to keep a recod myself and it's my legal right to have them.

GP: I've told you they're normal.

and so on and on.........

Goldengirl01 profile image
Goldengirl01 in reply toSeasideSusie

Have you been sitting on her shoulder lol. The receptionist are very rude too apparently , the sort you get in a comedy sketch

SlowDragon profile image
SlowDragonAdministrator in reply toGoldengirl01

if the Gp has seen them, you are entitled to access to results, either as printed copies via reception, or via online access

You don't need to see a GP just to get results

Take in some ID and register for online access. It takes a few days to organise

nhs.uk/using-the-nhs/about-...

Goldengirl01 profile image
Goldengirl01 in reply toSlowDragon

I can get them ok at mine it’s my daughter who has trouble at her surgery. The surgery/ receptionists say she needs to have an appt to get results that’s their rules. I know it’s stupid you know it’s stupid but rules are rules according to receptionists.

SlowDragon profile image
SlowDragonAdministrator in reply toGoldengirl01

She needs to search the Internet for the NHS guidelines and see Practice Manager

Or alternatively register for online access (if available)

Treepie profile image
Treepie in reply toGoldengirl01

So tell her to make an appointment and waste the GPs time , Then tell him the receptionist is wasting both their time ( even if it is the GP’s rules) that she has a legal right to have a print out of the test results .

The only reason for seeing the GP first would be if there was some finding that might be alarming and needed to be sensitively discussed .

Goldengirl01 profile image
Goldengirl01 in reply toTreepie

No nothing wrong went to see gp just to pick up results but they only did tsh, pointless

Goldengirl01 profile image
Goldengirl01 in reply toLora7again

Iv never known a surgery to do just tsh, they dont like to do t3 as too expensive but they usually do t3 with tsh. Maybe I'm sort of lucky then

humanbean profile image
humanbean in reply toGoldengirl01

Testing Free T4 and Free T3 both cost roughly the same. Someone on here - it might have been either helvella or jimh111 I can't remember for certain - who made a Freedom of Information request from his local CCG (?) to find out how much they cost. Apparently the tests themselves cost exactly the same and it was about 92p per test.

Goldengirl01 profile image
Goldengirl01 in reply tohumanbean

I was told by surgery that t3 is more expensive so they wont do it. When I had a really bad episode and sent to AMU at hospital the consultant said your tsh is fine you must have an infection somewhere. I said PLEASE, will you test t3 & 4. He went away and then came back and said you had this thyrotoxicosis about 5 years ago so I've requested t3&4. T4 range 12-22 mine was 95 and verging on heart attack. It seems you have to be nearly dead before they believe your symptoms. Then they just sent me straight home with carbimazole. They just dont care.

humanbean profile image
humanbean in reply toGoldengirl01

T3 tablets are very expensive in the UK.

T3 is probably rarely tested here because it gives doctors "plausible deniability". If they don't know that T3 is low then they can say you don't need it with little fear of being contradicted.

SlowDragon profile image
SlowDragonAdministrator in reply toGoldengirl01

Strongly suspect, as humanbean says .....

If FT3 isn't tested......this inevitably severely limits the number of people being prescribed T3

In order to get T3 prescribed in UK, virtually patients will have had to organise private testing themselves and fight every step of the way

serenfach profile image
serenfach

Ask to speak to the Data Controller (not the fat controller :) as every practice has to have one, and they are trained in the law. You are entitled to your own notes and results, and they will know this. The DC may then have a quiet word with the receptionist...

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