Requesting results from endo

[Geegee777]

I have asked my nhs endocrinologist's secretary if I could have a print out of my bloods results twice , on both occasions she said shed ask the endo for them, I still havnt recieved them. Is this a common issue?

[PurpleNails Administrator]

Legally you are entitled to them, they have no to choice to comply.

Sometimes they delay / obstruct. It might be doctors prefer you don’t know you results as that might lead to you challenging their advice.

Admin would be likely in trouble for releasing information before doctor has viewed it, but once it’s been dealt with it’s usually marked a filed & can be given to you.

That’s why they are saying they have to check. Explain again it is results the doctors has spoken to you about you are wanting a copy “for your records”. Ask when they will be available? Or even better when should you come back to collect them?

Obstruction to records is an issue for many. I have online access to GP record which is useful and no need to ask for printouts. The hospital locally to me doesn’t offer online access, but I have forms & email to records department to apply for records. It takes longer, but I get all “for my records”

My endocrinologist secretary would post me results, at first she questioned if I would understand them. I said yes, I can interpret results & she never asked again. Not that they should question that or why you want them.

[Geegee777 in reply to PurpleNails]

Ok, thanks for your reply. I will phone again on Monday. I think hes fobbing me off saying my t4 is too high and wants me reduce levo. (75/100 levo, alternate days with 15mcg t3, taken in split doses, I feel great)

So I really need to see them, then on goes my battle, hoping not to upset him, as I m afraid incase he refuses to carry on prescribing my t3, because Im not following his advice🙄🙄

[Cherwin in reply to PurpleNails]

How do I go about accessing my NHS records..?

[PurpleNails Administrator in reply to Cherwin]

Cherwin

You are legally entitled to your results. Practices must arrange to provide when requested but prefer you don’t request and can sometimes try to obstruct / delay.

Firstly ask if your practice offers online access, and request full online access including historical (prospective) record. They may require completion of form & you may need to provide ID if they are not sure who you are.

England (only) is contractually mandated to provide online access (other areas vary) - so Wales are not obligated to provide online access but can if practice chooses to. They are obligated to provide copies.

Online access extremely useful as if set up gives access to notes & letters.

If online access not available or in process of being set up (can take a month) do the following.

Contact practice reception. Explain I would like a copy of blood test for xx date or from xx date and say I will collect on eg “wednesdsy” give them 2 days or so to print.

Don’t accept verbal or hand scribbled notes insist on a printed copy with ranges (ranges vary between labs so essential).

Hospital held records are always accessible by GP. Depends what access is set up. Some practices can arrange to view record or would only add records if specialist wrote to practice with update. Often those letters don’t include lab ranges & results are meaningless without specify lab range. Ranges can vary between labs / machines.

You can always contacting the hospital department directly and requesting they post you copies of blood test - especially if recently & date known.

If there’s any obstruction there are other formal ways to request copies of hospital records.

Look on the hospital website as most have a contact email for data or health records coordinator. It might be listed as health records department / library. If not on website would try the switchboard and ask it there’s a medical records department.

Hospitals usually have their own application form (this is similar to subject access request- SAR) where you can request single, or entire record. I have done both. The single record was emailed back quite quickly. The full record being a larger record was posted. ID and a witness signature is required which I was able to submit via email. Photo copies via post can be used too.

[Cherwin in reply to PurpleNails]

Thankyou so much for your detailed response it is much appreciated. I am currently seeing a respiratory consultant regarding a lung condition so this information is very helpful.x

[Lalatoot]

The endo likely has sent the results to the GP. Maybe they are on your GP records.NHS Grampian deserve praise then. They send a letter to the patient and GP after tests with a spreadsheet of all thyroid results on it each time you have a consultation.

[Geegee777 in reply to Lalatoot]

Ah, never thought to ask my gp. Thank you 🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸

[Tinker72]

I’m signed up to Patient Knows Best, you get an email when your blood results are back - usually the same day 😀

[Zephyrbear]

I usually have telephone appointments with the endos now (saving me an hour’s drive there and another back again) and I always ask for a print-out of my results which they always say yes to. Then a copy of his/her letter arrives without it several weeks after the appointment, so I then have to ring up the secretary and she usually sends it within a couple of days. I’ve never had any problems with the secretary. Just goes to show who does the real work, don’t it…

[Poppycat999]

Hi l have a "my chart" app which l downloaded and the blood results from my local surgery and the main hospital l attend come up on it so do letters and appointments. I live in Devon l would think this is available in other areas of the country. It does take a few weeks to appear in my app but it always arrives.

[Geegee777]

Hi, thank you all for your help. I will phone my gp Monday morning incase they are there, if not I will phone endo secretary again. If unsuccessful, I will buy a private bloodtest, as endo wants me to reduce levo🤔🤔, which im not prepared to do as im feeling really improved since alternating 75/100 mcg levo alongside taking 15mcg t3, split into 3 doses of 5mcg. I will post results as soon as I get them🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸

[BeeOrchids]

I sympathise, getting results is such a pain. It's our thyroid (and blood) so why can't we have them.

I'm currently having a problem getting my GP to give detailed access to my records. For some reason they remove this every year or so and I have to apply again. I have blood test access at the moment after asking but had everything before, consultations, documents, details of appointments and when they had contacted me and why. The battle will continue!

[McPammy]

I received my NHS Endo blood test results no problem. I phoned his secretary for them and she sent them out in the post. However, annoyingly no ranges in the letter. So also ask for the ranges as without them the results are pretty useless.

[Brambles03]

NHS Highland have refused to provide thyroid blood test results since covid which is a real drawback. I previously received a paper copy of my results each time I was tested. Not now it seems. Very disappointing considering all the time spent in the Scottish Parliament regarding thyroid treatment in Scotland it no seems to be getting worse instead of better. I have not had my bloods done since June 22.

[serenfach]

I am impressed and jealous that some of you can see the results on the web. Here is West Wales we can ask for repeat prescriptions and that is about it. The practice does not have an email for patients.

Last time I asked for my results I had to pick them up in person and prove I was the right person. They dont post the results as "they could be opened by anyone".

I asked for my notes from the last two years and on reading, had to take the dog for a long walk and chop down an overhanging branch before I calmed down. Apparently I have tested negative for any autoimmune diseases, despite a couple being obvious to the naked eye! I also seem to have shrunk 2 inches and put on 3 stone, despite no one weighing or measuring me!

If push comes to shove, you can do a SAR (subject access request)

[RedApple Administrator in reply to serenfach]

The NHS Wales App has supposedly been in public beta testing since April. I wonder how many surgeries are actually connected to it though. I suspect very few! app.nhs.wales/login