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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Random letter from doctor - worried

69 replies

tacosplease · 14/09/2019 13:51

I moved house about 10 months ago and only just got round to registering with my new doctor’s surgery last week.

Today I got an email from the person who bought my old place stating that they had a letter for me from the “radiology department” at my previous doctor/hospital and that they would send it on in the post.

I haven’t had a doctor’s appointment for several years, but I did have some blood tests done (for a general health check) at my then local hospital about a year and a half ago. The doctor called me a week or so afterwards, said everything was fine and that was that.

AIBU to be concerned that I’ve now been sent a letter marked from the radiology department? I don’t think I’ll be able to relax until it arrives next week.

It did cross my mind that the old doctor could have written to me regarding changing to a new surgery, but then I realised that of course they wouldn’t send anything to my old address after my new doctor got in touch with them to request my records... Confused

OP posts:
WishMyNameWasWittyNotShitty · 14/09/2019 17:34

I'm wondering if its for someone else.

On a side note, please do see a dentist as regular as you can and whilst it's been mentioned check when you are due a smear!

(I'll take my Mum hat off now!)

Original poster
tacosplease · 14/09/2019 18:14

I am way overdue on the dentist - it’s been ages! Blush

OP posts:
Ellapaella · 14/09/2019 19:00

It's unlikely to be anything serious. The hospital would have been in touch with your Gp if they'd been unable to contact you and your GP surgery would have rung you.

Yabbers · 14/09/2019 19:01

I suppose they must do, as he seemed to know the department. Unless he could see some of the letter through the little plastic window thing on the front?

Which is the very reason they tend not to do it. Serious breach of patient confidentiality.

MyOtherProfile · 14/09/2019 19:04

I bet it's either a mistake or a routine check. It can't be anything bad if they haven't seen you.

Original poster
tacosplease · 14/09/2019 19:41

I bet it's either a mistake or a routine check. It can't be anything bad if they haven't seen you.

Exactly - that’s what I keep telling myself! I think it’s just the “radiology” thing that threw me Confused I will definitely update when the letter arrives!

OP posts:
BogglesGoggles · 14/09/2019 19:44

It would be an absolute miracle for an NHS hospital to offer you an appointment you hadn’t chased them for and weren’t desperately in need of unless it was for a routine test. I really wouldn’t worry.

YeOldeTrout · 14/09/2019 20:09

It wouldn't surprise me if they decided there was a mistake in how your test was processed & they may want to repeat.

This doesn't mean you're secretly ill. If you were ill then you'd be more ill now. But they are extra extra cautious, and they don't know if you became very ill since. They can't see all your other medical treatment that might have happened since.

Original poster
tacosplease · 14/09/2019 20:15

It wouldn't surprise me if they decided there was a mistake in how your test was processed & they may want to repeat.

@YeOldeTrout Really? From a year and a half ago? Also, would it be the radiology department for routine blood tests?

OP posts:
Whatsthequestion123 · 14/09/2019 20:23

Ring them and ask?

SparklyMagpie · 14/09/2019 20:28

Me personally, I'd have given my old GP a call. You can only try right? Especially considering the anxiety its giving you

It does sound like a mistake though

YeOldeTrout · 14/09/2019 20:29

yeah, there are audits in how things are processed and the audits end up going back a few yrs.

They could have done an audit, realised the blood test should have been graded as unclear not definite, but an imaging test would provide more info (could rule something in or out). Modern medicine is tedious with tests.

I did say it's not worth worrying about.

Sewrainbow · 14/09/2019 20:49

*ittleorangecat22

Someone you know has TB? I got a letter from hospital once notifying that I had been in contact with someone who had been diagnosed with TB and recommending a test/chest Xray as a result, which may come from a radiology dept. (I didn'gt have TB)

This is quite feasible

KitKat1985 · 14/09/2019 20:56

I suspect it'll either be a smear or a mammogram appointment. Try not to panic.

Cyclewidow46 · 14/09/2019 23:04

Definitely too young for routine screening mammogram, I've just had my first at 50.
Sometimes a blood test can require a follow up ultrasound scan. If it revealed abnormal liver function tests for example, but as you say your blood test was 18 months ago and your GP would have called you in first to discuss the blood test results.
Can't be a smear as they have nothing to do with radiology.
I am really racking my brains to think of a reason and I can't think of anything.
I'm thinking it's an admin error .
Keep us posted when you know x

81Byerley · 16/09/2019 12:27

@tacosplease have you received the letter yet?

loulou0987 · 18/09/2019 13:13

Did you receive the letter op? A call to radiology might solve it if not x

covetingthepreciousthings · 18/09/2019 13:15

Hope all is ok OP & you have solved the mystery.

Winterwoollies · 25/02/2020 12:11

Was everything ok in the end @tacosplease?x

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