Is being asked to come in to discuss test results usually bad news?

[MulledWineExtraGin]

Hi,

I already have this in General Health, but it's very quiet over there, so thought I'd give it a go here.

My DM reluctantly decided to go private for heart issues, including lots of tachycardia and ectopic beats. She's had a echocardiogram and 7 day ECG. The sonographer actually said that she couldn't see anything worrying, but that was obviously not a diagnosis and would need to do final checks and measurements etc.

DM had several really bad tachycardia episodes during the 7 day ECG period, so it will have definitely picked them up. This is always accompanied by sky rocketed blood pressure. Will usually return to normal within a few minutes and this has always puzzled doctors so far.

Anyway, results are finally in and my DM has been asked to come in to discuss them.

I'm terrified, quite honestly. Goodness knows how she must be feeling.

A friend of mine is awaiting similar test results and she was told that if all tests came back normal, they'd just send her a letter or give her a call.

I just think that if it was good news, surely they'd just want to give her the results over the phone, given covid and the risks that come with that.

Thoughts and experiences very much welcomed.

Thank you.

Is it the consultant asking her to come in? I’d have thought private docs much more likely to review in person than NHS- there is a huge amount of pressure in NHS not to fill up clinics with ‘follow up’ patients due to waiting lists.

My mum had similar they wanted to discuss medication options

Private? That’s your word there isn’t it? I would have assumed a private patient would expect a face to face debrief after tests.

How it all goes on.

And with heart things it’s not a split between ‘good news’ and ‘bad news’ like you’d have with say cancer tests. They may well just want to discuss options for treating her symptoms, doesn’t mean it’s anything dreadful.

My DH had similar, the appointment was to go over results (which were not bad news) and to be given a prescription. The phone call to come in asap in the morning came way after closing time, it was 7.45 pm or so, put the frighteners on us good and proper! We didn't know until at the appointment that there was nothing more sinister than a bunch of tablets needed.

Pre covid though.

Ohhhhhhhhh private. Yes good spot, there. They'll want her in person, good news or not so good.

My initial thought is will they charge you more for a face to face consultation than a phone one or email. As it’s private, that could be a motivation. Certainly when I’ve used private healthcare I’ve always had more appointments and not really because it was necessary, just because it’s good business sense. I would also imagine they may want to assess her, check blood pressure or other things that can’t be done remotely.

I think pre covid, I would definitely assume it was because she had gone privately, but you'd think they wouldn't want be taking any unnecessary risks right now.

@seoirnrbu, yes, that's a good point.

@FlibbertyGiblets, that sounds absolutely terrifying! I wonder why they made it sound so urgent. Can I ask what kind of symptoms your DH was having?