If results are normal, you will not be contacted routinely, however, you can view your test results on the NHS App and in the ‘results’ section of SystmOnline. We encourage patients to view their results this way.
Getting your test results
Once a doctor has reviewed your test results, you can view them:
- in your NHS account (through the NHS website or NHS App)
- in your SystmOne account
- by phoning us on Shelley Manor Medical Centre 01202 309 421 or Holdenhurst Medical Centre 01202 587 111 after 2pm. At this time of day, you will get through to the surgery more easily and our receptionists will have time to find the results for you, if they are available
Please note that test results will not be given to you until the doctor has seen them and instructed the receptionist appropriately. In some cases, a doctor may ask you to come into the surgery to receive your results.
This does not automatically indicate that is something sinister about your results; it could be for a variety of harmless reasons such as wishing to give you a more detailed explanation, medication management etc, so please try not to worry if a receptionist asks you to make an appointment.
Blood tests
A blood test is when a sample of blood is taken for testing in a laboratory. Blood tests have a wide range of uses and are one of the most common types of medical test. For example, a blood test can be used to:
- assess your general state of health
- confirm the presence of a bacterial or viral infection
- see how well certain organs, such as the liver and kidneys, are functioning
A blood test usually involves the phlebotomist taking a blood sample from a blood vessel in your arm and the usual place for a sample is the inside of the elbow or wrist, where the veins are relatively close to the surface. Blood samples from children are most commonly taken from the back of the hand. The childs hand will be anaesthetised (numbed) with a special cream before the sample is taken.
X-rays
An X-ray is a widely used diagnostic test to examine the inside of the body. X-rays are a very effective way of detecting problems with bones, such as fractures. They can also often identify problems with soft tissue, such as pneumonia or breast cancer. If you have an X-ray, you will be asked to lie on a table or stand against a surface so that the part of your body being X-rayed is between the X-ray tube and the photographic plate.
An X-ray is usually carried out by a radiographer, a healthcare professional who specialises in using imaging technology, such as X-rays and ultrasound scanners.