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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU in thinking that if GP notes something wrong with your bloods, they should call you?

115 replies

DeTwamps · 27/01/2020 16:49

2 months ago I had bloods done. Heard nothing back so presumed all ok.
I've since needed a copy of the bloods for an external agency and have called 3 times to get a copy of the bloods.
Finally today the receptionist goes 'Oh, hold on, there's a note on here - Patient to make appointment to discuss further management'.
Why the heck am I finding this out only now???????????

You'd swear I was trying to get access to Top Secret information. In fact, I've actually had an appointment with a gp in the practice in the intervening 2 months and nothing was mentioned!

I've had similar crap with this practice before where a consultant will advise a course of action to be taken by the GP but they don't actually act on it. I get copied on the letters and then I have to ring the GP myself to ask them to read the letter.

What in the world? FFS. AIBU?

OP posts:
Original poster
DeTwamps · 27/01/2020 16:50

The letters are addressed to the GP, not to me - I'm just cc'd.

OP posts:
Sirzy · 27/01/2020 16:51

At our practise it is standard that you phone them after so many days to check the results are back and if further action is needed

Original poster
DeTwamps · 27/01/2020 16:52

@Sirzy - Are you told this in advance?

OP posts:
AlaskaElfForGin · 27/01/2020 16:54

I thought it was standard practice that you take responsibility for phoning for results yourself? A GP surgery could have dozens of results back a day, they wouldn't have time for someone to spend the day chasing people to give them results I guess.

Original poster
DeTwamps · 27/01/2020 16:56

Plus I'm really annoyed that I'm not entitled to a copy of MY blood results. 'Oh no, we don't do that'. It's MY BLOOMING RESULTS..

Currently on hold for 15 minutes to try to get through to the practice manager and you'd swear it was the Queen I was trying to speak to.

OP posts:
Iooselipssinkships · 27/01/2020 16:57

At mine you're told to ring back in 2 weeks time for the results. That might be the case here. Whatever is it I hope everything is alright and it's nothing too serious.

Shadowboy · 27/01/2020 16:58

It’s practice in our surgery that we phone in for our own results. I’ve never been rung by the surgery- I genuinely thought it was the standard.

Original poster
DeTwamps · 27/01/2020 16:59

So - you'd expect an 80 year old to interpret a consultant's letter or to remember to phone for blood results?

OP posts:
HopelesslydevotedtoGu · 27/01/2020 17:02

At mine you need to phone or log in online to see your results. I think it's very, very rare for surgeries to contact you with abnormal results these days (unless something very urgent).

pullingmyhairout2 · 27/01/2020 17:02

I had this when my dad was ill. Thankfully he went to hospital for a routine appointment. In the words of the consultant, its a good job you came in today as you could be dead tomorrow! He had no white blood cells at all. The doctor had seen the results and passed them on to his other consultant who was on holiday. Needless to say I had a few words with the gp.
With our gp it works that you can ring them for the results, however if there is something wrong they will ring you.

Original poster
DeTwamps · 27/01/2020 17:02

Well, after much deliberation and being on hold for 20 minutes, they have finally decided that they CAN actually post the blood results to me. 'We'll put Private and Confidential on the letter and hopefully nobody intercepts the letter.'
Ye, because I'm sure the CIA are very fucking interested in DeTwamps blood results.

OP posts:
Itsnotalwaysme · 27/01/2020 17:04

Realistically you cannot expect an already stretched service to contact every patient when there is an issue, it would be chaos

HopelesslydevotedtoGu · 27/01/2020 17:04

So - you'd expect an 80 year old to interpret a consultant's letter or to remember to phone for blood results?

Are you 80? it's likely they have different arrangements for patients unable to remember to call up.

slipperywhensparticus · 27/01/2020 17:05

Mine contact me if something is wrong because I have an overactive thyroid which likes to go WRONG then my dr gets a call from the blood people to say slippery is REALLY overactive and my dr says well she said she felt a "little" unwell and calls me

Cohle · 27/01/2020 17:07

If they expect you to contact them for the results then fair enough, but that should be made very clear to patients when the bloods are done surely? It's hardly unreasonable to assume that they'll contact you, especially if it's the first time you've had tests of this nature.

I'm glad you've got it sorted OP.

Original poster
DeTwamps · 27/01/2020 17:09

I might be 80!

I explained that I was housebound and couldn't collect them. She said they couldn't post them or email them for patient confidentiality reasons. I said, it's my postal address, my email address, my blood results. 'Can someone else collect them for you?' (funny how patient confidentiality doesn't come in there). Me: No. Her: Oh and you're not housebound - you've been in this surgery before! FFS. Me: Well I'm housebound now and I'll fucking hire a fucking helicopter to go there and strangle you if you don't send me my goddamned results!!

OP posts:
WhoWants2Know · 27/01/2020 17:11

At my current practice they give you a leaflet that basically says that blood results will be back in two working days, but that if there is anything of concern then they will contact you.

Redshoeblueshoe · 27/01/2020 17:11

I had bloods taken just before Christmas, and I was told to ring for results. However things have just changed at my surgery, and from now on they are emailing results.
They should have told you that you needed to ring them.

SteeperThanHell · 27/01/2020 17:11

My husband was found to have leukaemia following a routine blood test and he was called back by his GP the same day and sent straight to the hospital.

I have routine blood tests for an under active thyroid and usually phone for the results.

fishonabicycle · 27/01/2020 17:12

Yes - you have to call them for your results.

Original poster
DeTwamps · 27/01/2020 17:13

They don't read the blood results or the consultant's letters, so I could be on death's door at the age of 94 and I'd never know that there was something wrong BECAUSE THEY DON'T ACTION ANYTHING.

OP posts:
Aridane · 27/01/2020 17:13

At our practise it is standard that you phone them after so many days to check the results are back and if further action is needed

Wow - you’re able to get through!! (we have a one hour slot for phoning for test results)

WeirdPookah · 27/01/2020 17:15

Do younot have online access to your Doctors? Mine does. I have full access to test results, I can even see my immunisation dates from the 1980's!

You have to ask to join the online access. Perhaps ask if your surgery has it. Though doesn't sound they are very organised.

Aridane · 27/01/2020 17:17

I thought it was standard practice that you take responsibility for phoning for results yourself? A GP surgery could have dozens of results back a day, they wouldn't have time for someone to spend the day chasing people to give them results I guess.

What is the average person going to do with blood results?

GPs commission tests for a purpose, not for shit and giggles, and as part of diagnosis, monitoring and treatment. Not for average patient to turn sleuth.

Imagine if after every mammogram, smear etc you had to phone for results - chaos

Original poster
DeTwamps · 27/01/2020 17:19

Exactly Aridane!

All we can do on the online system is order repeat medications. We can't see results or make appointments.

OP posts: