You won't hear anything....

[Drummer]

I went for a long overdue blood test today for my Hba1c and Thyroid levels, and was told that I would not be informed of my results, but if necessary I would be issued with a prescription.
As at that point the skin at the puncture point was bubbling up as blood was escaping under my skin - I now have a huge bruise - I decided to wait and see what transpires, rather than utter the first thing which came to mind - but it was on the lines of 'good luck with getting compliance on that' just less polite.

 

[Paulbreen]

Ouch that sounds painful @Drummer I hope it clears up ok, I’d be kicking up a stink to have my results after the tests, good or bad it’s your right to know, hopefully they are good anyhow

 

[Barfly]

What is it with the medical profession here in the UK? It's your health and body they are messing with, who the hell are they to deny you information you deem necessary? I cannot believe the arrogance of some health professionals here in the UK.
It did not used to be this way, before I emigrated in 1982 all test results, x-rays etc were given to me as a matter of course, I did not even have to ask for them. Now since I returned in 2014, it seems they have this proprietary outlook as though your health is only a matter of concern to them, you have no input or say in examining the results of tests and x-rays/other investigations. It seems the actual patient is regarded as a bit of a nuisance.

 

[AndBreathe]

I went for a long overdue blood test today for my Hba1c and Thyroid levels, and was told that I would not be informed of my results, but if necessary I would be issued with a prescription.
As at that point the skin at the puncture point was bubbling up as blood was escaping under my skin - I now have a huge bruise - I decided to wait and see what transpires, rather than utter the first thing which came to mind - but it was on the lines of 'good luck with getting compliance on that' just less polite.

Don't you have access to your medical records, or at least test results, online?

I recently had my thyroid levels checked, following a titration up on my T3. I have a good understanding of what those results mean and how all the components impact each other.

The results came back confirming my thyroid just will NOT get with the programme, but they're not dire either, so will be discussed with the Endo again next we speak. The GP note was that they are "borderline - retest in 3 months".

I had to speak with the GP about another matter, but had to navigate the receptionist to achieve that. During that conversation I mentioned I'd also like someone to explain what they mean by my results being "borderline". The receptionist explain it meant they weren't too high and they weren't too low, and they'd be rechecked in 6 months".

Just one reason self service, self management and heavy self advocation is so important at the moment.

Don't get me wrong, I am so grateful we have the NHS. It is so important to us all, but it can fall well short on so many levels.

 

[Deleted member 21371]

The test was only yesterday?
Does anyone on here get their results the same day?
Give the NHS a chance to actually do the tests first.
And my surgery didn't bombard everyone with their results.
Many don't want to hear them.
Many will be out.
Many want the nurse to call back later.
However, if you rang and asked, yes, they would spend time talking you through them.
I registered online, and get them that way now.
We have to take some responsibly for ourselves, the NHS have better things to do then ring everyone, trying to give results out.

 

[Barfly]

The test was only yesterday?
Does anyone on here get their results the same day?
Give the NHS a chance to actually do the tests first.
And my surgery didn't bombard everyone with their results.
Many don't want to hear them.
Many will be out.
Many want the nurse to call back later.
However, if you rang and asked, yes, they would spend time talking you through them.
I registered online, and get them that way now.
We have to take some responsibly for ourselves, the NHS have better things to do then ring everyone, trying to give results out.

The problem is, most surgeries make it impossible to contact your doctor directly. For instance my surgery has a 2 .5 minute spiel rambling on about covid precautions, how you should ring 999 in emergencies, 111 for less urgent matters and other more useless information that just goes on and on....then you are put on hold for another 20 minutes or so eventually to speak to a "valuable colleague" one of the receptionists, whose main function appears to be to field calls away from the person to whom you wish to speak. They then put you on a waiting list for the doctor to call you back, with at least a 3 week delay. If you miss that call, as I have done on several occasions with my mobile service not the best, then I have to repeat that procedure and wait another three weeks.....it just goes on and on.......I have never even tried for a face-to-face doctors visit, that wouldn't happen until after xmas the way things are.

 

[Thebearcametoo]

For ours you only get informed if there’s an issue that needs follow up. If you just need meds I’d get a text to say there’s a prescription at the pharmacy. We can call after 2pm for results but it’s just someone in admin to say ‘it’s fine’ as if it wasn’t fine it would have been followed up. They can’t interpret results or anything and often can’t give out specific information. It’s rare for me to know the actual results unless I happen to see the nurse for other things who will tell me everything on the screen.
If I need any follow up I usually hear about it next day.

 

[Drummer]

The test was only yesterday?
Does anyone on here get their results the same day?
Give the NHS a chance to actually do the tests first.
And my surgery didn't bombard everyone with their results.
Many don't want to hear them.
Many will be out.
Many want the nurse to call back later.
However, if you rang and asked, yes, they would spend time talking you through them.
I registered online, and get them that way now.
We have to take some responsibly for ourselves, the NHS have better things to do then ring everyone, trying to give results out.

I was not expecting to get the results there and then - I was simply told that I would not be informed what they were - if the GP decides that I need medication, a prescription will be issued.
If I rang - well last time I called the surgery it took over an hour listening to music and pre-recorded info about Covid to get to speak to the receptionist - but they don't give out results over the phone, they do not do this online business, but I would like to know what my results are, so - as, coincidentally, I need to see the doctor about my driving licence, I will ask then. It might take up some time which could be used for other things, but vague and evasive - and judgemental - GPs will find me there with a bright smile, my notebook and pencil at the ready.

 

[Drummer]

Don't you have access to your medical records, or at least test results, online?

I recently had my thyroid levels checked, following a titration up on my T3. I have a good understanding of what those results mean and how all the components impact each other.

The results came back confirming my thyroid just will NOT get with the programme, but they're not dire either, so will be discussed with the Endo again next we speak. The GP note was that they are "borderline - retest in 3 months".

I had to speak with the GP about another matter, but had to navigate the receptionist to achieve that. During that conversation I mentioned I'd also like someone to explain what they mean by my results being "borderline". The receptionist explain it meant they weren't too high and they weren't too low, and they'd be rechecked in 6 months".

Just one reason self service, self management and heavy self advocation is so important at the moment.

Don't get me wrong, I am so grateful we have the NHS. It is so important to us all, but it can fall well short on so many levels.

No access online.
Borderline, actually, means that you are close to either the upper or lower limit but they think that it is not far enough from the average to try to correct. When my thyroid eventually failed I had several years of feeling dreadful as I was borderline at the bottom end of normal. Only when I managed to get an extra 25micrograms of thyroxine a day did I feel at all normal, but I was still borderline, but high rather than low. When my GP changed I was put onto the lower dosage again....

 

[Deleted member 21371]

I was not expecting to get the results there and then - I was simply told that I would not be informed what they were - if the GP decides that I need medication, a prescription will be issued.
If I rang - well last time I called the surgery it took over an hour listening to music and pre-recorded info about Covid to get to speak to the receptionist - but they don't give out results over the phone, they do not do this online business, but I would like to know what my results are, so - as, coincidentally, I need to see the doctor about my driving licence, I will ask then. It might take up some time which could be used for other things, but vague and evasive - and judgemental - GPs will find me there with a bright smile, my notebook and pencil at the ready.

I guess all surgeries and patients are different.
My last surgery was 2:30, Tues and Thurs, ring up, speak to the nurse, get the results. I asked for mine to be printed out, they were then left with the receptionist to pick up in the evening.
They couldn't help more to be fair, but then, I never went in having decided they were going to be judgemental, and being deliberately vague and evasive. Nor did I think I could be using my time better than getting my results, maybe that guides the meeting.
Then they moved online, as my new surgery is.
I check the results the next day now. and I phone them is there is anything in there I don't like.

 

[Paulbreen]

Ouch that sounds painful @Drummer I hope it clears up ok, I’d be kicking up a stink to have my results after the tests, good or bad it’s your right to know, hopefully they are good anyhow

I wasn’t suggesting anything so radical like having test results immediately, I have some experience of the NHS so know the score but that said everyone has the right to see their test results in a timely manner and be able to discuss with a medically qualified professional not the fecking receptionist.
Im lucky enough to live in Germany and I get all blood results within 72 hours, hab1c is done in the practice and takes 3 minutes

 

[AndBreathe]

No access online.
Borderline, actually, means that you are close to either the upper or lower limit but they think that it is not far enough from the average to try to correct. When my thyroid eventually failed I had several years of feeling dreadful as I was borderline at the bottom end of normal. Only when I managed to get an extra 25micrograms of thyroxine a day did I feel at all normal, but I was still borderline, but high rather than low. When my GP changed I was put onto the lower dosage again....

No worries Drummer. I am very clear what borderline means, which my results weren't, in my view, but wondered if I was missing something. I'm always open to that. I was just rather unimpressed that the receptionist seemed to be making it up as she went along.

 

[nonethewiser]

Not with hba1c but with other tests get told not to worry unless called upon by gp surgery, otherwords all is normal should you not here anything, thought that was standard procedure.

 

[Drummer]

Not with hba1c but with other tests get told not to worry unless called upon by gp surgery, otherwords all is normal should you not here anything, thought that was standard procedure.

It is bad practice - there have been cases where messages did not get to the patient, who assumed all was well only for the true situation to be discovered some time later - and for some people it has turned out very badly indeed.

 

[trophywench]

Phone appt with D consultant in February 2021 - queried my TFT having increased from 0.1something in July 2020 to 3.something in December 2021, saying when the (stupid Englishwoman who reviewed my results then) GP rang me and I said 'Oh dear, that's shot up a bit then!' with slight alarm, she replied 'They vary all over the place from time to time and nowhere near high enough yet to warrant changing anything!' - so I chose to ignore her same as I did when the same silly person told me years ago when doing my review in person that 'It is entirely up to me whether I agree to prescribe insulin for anyone, or not! ' - oh stupid Jennifer, thinking that would be illegal when the patient was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes some 30-odd years ago - mea culpa. Consultant laughed and said 'Well - it is true that we tend to take a different view about Thyroid results than non-expert

 

[trophywench]

Sorry, cursor disappeared, only thing I appeared able to do was post my response as it was. So -
... non-expert GPs' - and proceeded to tell me to adjust my dose! 🙂

I'm flippin fuming about no longer having online access to current or past results. They are MINE - not the NHS or anyone else's.

 

[AndBreathe]

Sorry, cursor disappeared, only thing I appeared able to do was post my response as it was. So -
... non-expert GPs' - and proceeded to tell me to adjust my dose! 🙂

I'm flippin fuming about no longer having online access to current or past results. They are MINE - not the NHS or anyone else's.

What happened to your online access?

 

[trophywench]

Our surgery along with a lot of others in Coventry have adopted a new online system and although it can allegedly include access to results, according to the Coventry CCG POD - ie the prescription ordering service - the surgery haven't enabled it. On the NHS website - 'Not available'. Took them several years to bother to do it in the first place, so we aren't holding our breaths.

According to the 5 minute blah blah you have to listen to every time you dial the surgery number - you can press one of the options if you want results - and then listen to another pre-recorded message telling you that you can only ring on a Tuesday lunchtime in a one hour slot, to get them. They do NOT wish to tell you the actual numbers, you have to ask for them - I'd got the old lot properly trained, prior to the original computer system, and don't really want to have to start again now I'm 10+ years older - with even less patience.

 

[Paulbreen]

In Germany most of the “house doctors” (gp’s) do a lot of their own testing for basic stuff in house, mostly in small desktop diagnostic computers and they ping you a results email pretty quickly. I recently went for a kidney check up and they had everything tested in their in house lab, I had all the results emailed in 2 days, might be a good model for the NHS to look at

 

[Barfly]

In Germany most of the “house doctors” (gp’s) do a lot of their own testing for basic stuff in house, mostly in small desktop diagnostic computers and they ping you a results email pretty quickly. I recently went for a kidney check up and they had everything tested in their in house lab, I had all the results emailed in 2 days, might be a good model for the NHS to look at

I ain't gonna hold my breath on that one Paul....