Do GP’s bother phoning back if the result is normal?

[mynameisbilly]

I had a blood test recently. I’ve been waiting on results, and just come back from holiday to a letter saying they have been unable to get hold of me, and the GP has a message for me so could I ring the surgery.

It’s friday night, and the surgery doesn’t open until Monday. I don’t want to spend the weekend worrying.

So, anyone with GP insight or patient experience - if a result was normal, would a GP still ring? Or is it a ‘no news is good news’ thing?

Mine doesnt ring if the results are normal.

Try not to worry too much. The message may be that it needs repeating again in X months, or something equally less scary.

Fingers crossed for you

I had a letter asking me to urgently make an appointment because my blood results were abnormal.

When I spoke to the doctor something was raised probably because I had a cold when the blood was taken.

We don’t generally ring if everything’s normal, but doesn’t necessarily mean you need to panic - could be something as dull as the sample was lost!

Thank you all so much for your replies. I think the reason I’m worried is because this test was a repeat, after the last one came back abnormal. But anyway, it helps knowing the process and I’ll try to put it to the back of my mind this weekend.

Out of interest, and as a complete side note, does anyone know how GP’s manage to keep track of everyone’s results?! Surely they must get so many each day?! My respect for any GP’s out there is massive!

Out of interest, and as a complete side note, does anyone know how GP’s manage to keep track of everyone’s results?! Surely they must get so many each day?! My respect for any GP’s out there is massive!

Well it's the admin team who will take the results and input them to the computer. The GP looks at your medical record to see it.

@dramatical I see. But how do they remember to look at every patient’s medical record? I struggle to remember to put the bins out! Clever wonderful wizardry people!

I think there is a task system which flags up stuff to do. That is what social work is like anyway.

DD has some test results and I had a similar message and freaked. It showed ‘inflammation’ and something else a bit high and we were asked to repeat. It turned out she had a virus. I did lots of panic googling and the consensus was if it was anything really serious the doctor would definitely have been in touch today! I think the admin people get their tasks from the doctor at the end of the day because the GP reviews them in the afternoon, at least that is what happens are my surgery.