NHS results

[Redporti]

I went for my 1st NHS endocrinologist appointment 10 days ago. I had previously been seeing the same Endo privately. I had bloods done & I am now waiting to get the results. How long does it take to get your results & medication plan? I feel like crap & want to know what the next step is & I’m getting impatient.

[Lora7again]

I would think you will be getting them shortly if you don't ring up the Consultant's secretary and ask her if they have been sent out to you in the post. You are entitled to see all your results because it is the law. I know you are impatient to start treatment but thyroid disease is not a quick fix I'm afraid.

[silverfox7]

I see an NHS Endo on every appointment at the hospital. I am sent a blood request and go in a week to 10 days before my appointment I’m asked to do it a week earlier than my appointment so that he had had time to look at my results so they are always waiting for me. My present doctor is waiting for my TSH to rise-never going to happen and knows nothing about NDT either but my results are waiting. Then I ask to be copied in to the letter to my GP so I usually get that within 2-3 weeks.

[fuchsia-pink]

My endo (or the secretary? -not sure who the blocker is) refuses point blank to give me my blood results. I have to ask the GP to get them and let me have copies - and they're very good about that. They send by email to the GP. I would expect results from bloods in a hospital to take no more than a couple of days - so completely legit to chase

[BadHare in reply to fuchsia-pink]

A letter to the hospital governors via PALS should sort that issue out.

[Redporti]

I think that because it was my first appointment she took bloods on the day and then would decided what cause of action to take. Then she will write to me. I’m then due to see her again in 3 months. So I guess I will be sent a blood form before that appointment so that my results are there when I see her again so we can discuss them. Is that how it works?

[fuchsia-pink in reply to Redporti]

I would want my last blood results sooner - not least to post on this forum before the next endo appointment!

And as regards future appointments, what you say is logical, but it's not how my endo works - I have to phone the endo's receptionist to ask for the blood forms or no testing would ever happen! At least that way, I can arrange the tests myself, either at my GP for early morning or the local cottage hospital which starts doing blood tests at 7.30am and where parking is free So keep on top of it and ask for the forms if they don't sort something out.

[I appreciate my endo isn't coming out of this terribly well - that's why I haven't added him to Dionne's list, even though he prescribes T3!]

[serenfach]

I had to do a SAR to actually get the results from the hospital. The GP did not get the results either. The SAR took 4 weeks. Both endos were intent on getting me back on Thyroxine and both dismissed NDT out of hand. I will never bother again. It is bad enough trying to educate yet another GP, as I had the old one trained, but he retired.

I hope your experience is better and she can help you forward to feel well.