To think someone at the GP surgery should do my blood test

[JacobReesMogadishu]

I've got an rare chronic condition which I've had for years. It puts me at risk of kidney and liver failure. I live up north but due to it's scarcity I'm under a consultant in London. This consultant sorts my medication and treatment plan out and I travel to London a couple of times a year.

I haven't seen anyone face to face since Dec as my last appt in March was cancelled.

The hospital emailed me yesterday to say they've realised I'm overdue a kidney and liver function test and can I contact my GP asap to sort this. My GP surgery has done this before, in fact they've rung me before to say I need one.

I rang and spoke to a receptionist today who said now due to covid they're no longer doing hospital bloods. That I have to go to the hospital. I pointed out that firstly it's 4 hours to the hospital and that my clinic isn't seeing people face to face due to covid either.

So she told me to go to the local hospital and to get a blood form from the london hospital. London hospital have said they'll send me a blood form but said they doubt my local hospital will accept it as the forms are different and the lab won't be able to bill the London hospital so won't want to do it.

What the heck has happened to joined up treatment and thinking about the patient holistically? A friend works at a GP surgery 5 miles up the road and they're still doing hospital bloods so it's obviously not a county wide decision to stop doing them.

I am sorry this is happening to you. We usually get the London specialist to email us the form which we forward to our local GP who then writes a new form for the local hospital. GP then forwards results to the London specialist.

Change your GP

@ittakes2

I am sorry this is happening to you. We usually get the London specialist to email us the form which we forward to our local GP who then writes a new form for the local hospital. GP then forwards results to the London specialist.

That might work. If the local hospital refuse to accept the London form I'll ask the GP surgery if they can at least do that. Although when I rang them back today to say that London didn't think their form would be accepted locally there was no offer of a local form and just told that they were sure it would be accepted.

I daren't change GP.. The actual lead GP is very good and knows my history and takes a genuine interest in my plan. I've been a patient there for over 30 years.

If you won’t change GP then try private? A quick google tells me that there is a local private clinic that will do liver function for £99, same day results, kidney function £48, plus £50 consulting fee. I’m in the south east, will be cheaper up north.

If not prepared to do this change GP

The GP can prepare and give you a surgery blood form for liver and kidney function tests. Have it done at your local hospital with this form where your bloods would be tested anyway, and get your surgery to email London the results, or email them yourself.
Practice nurse. We do this regularly.

This happened to me recently too, was told I would have to go to my local hospital for a blood test as GP surgery no longer do them for hospital blood tests.

Is the lead GP who looks after you available for a phone consultation?
Perhaps if he was aware of whats happening and your specific needs he might make it happen?

Ring again tomorrow and tell them you need a phone consultation with the GP , Im sure most GPs would be happy to accommodate your request .

I would ask for a phone consultation with your GP , explain the situation and they can easily print off the required blood form that you can then take to the local hospital.

Thanks, I'll try and get hold of the GP if I'm still struggling tomorrow to get it done.

I can't really afford for private consultations and blood tests.

Honestly OP if you can get to speak to an actual Doctor it can be sorted very quickly, its literally a two minute job.

It's difficult to get an appt though, you have to tell the receptionist what you want to talk to a dr about. And I'm not sure I'll make it through that barrier!

You don’t have to tell the receptionist anything , just tell her it’s a personal matter , she sounds like a complete jobsworth .

Hi op I'm a receptionist we are still doing bloods and have been all the way through. Are your surgery saying they are not seeing patients face to face ? If they are referring all bloods to the local hospital they need to give you the form ( we use ice ) then if your hospital offers phlebotomy drop in service you just turn up with the form. Ask the receptionist to send a message to GP to add the bloods onto ice or whatever system they use and all she has to do is print it off.

@JacobReesMogadishu Get a telephone consultation with the lead gp and explain to them.

Don't want to bash receptionist's or pigeon hole but sometimes they will not give any flexibility when it is needed.

Bypass the gatekeeper and speak to the organ grinder.

And if you are asked what it is about tell her you'd rather not say and will discuss with gp. If she presses and you're not feeling assertive tell her it's personal and delicate or just say it's to discuss problems you are having with your long-term condition.

My old GP didn’t have anyone doing bloods for a long time and my new one doesn’t do them either, we get referred to a different clinic (I go to the hospital for mine as I am a poor bleeder with teeny tiny veins) I think it’s quite normal

That's ridiculous. My GP has done my thyroid function tests no problem.

I can't get my DD's peak flow tested. I mean, I need to know if this constant croupy cough is actually asthma because of Covid.

And yet I got my antibody test at the local hospital with no problems.

Get the paperwork sent up from your doctor in London and go to your local hospital - it will have a blood testing department (often a walk in and wait service).

My GP don’t do usually blood tests, this is what you have to do as standard.

Yes it's madness. We've so far bought a peak flow meter and a blood pressure machine because we can't get those things checked at the surgery.

It's difficult to get an appt though, you have to tell the receptionist what you want to talk to a dr about. And I'm not sure I'll make it through that barrier! Try writing a letter, marked attn your GP. I've done that for my GP when I've just wanted to ask a question and the phones were engaged all day.

I had a blood test, which was supposed to be done at the hospital, taken by the nurse at my GP practice because I wasn't prepared to go to a hospital at the height of the Covid crisis.

I would change GP practice if you ask again and they refuse.

Can you go to your local hospital for the bloods? I know mine has a walk in clinic for bloods.

It's ridiculous in this area. GPs are still only doing telephone appointments. DH ended up in hospital at the end of May. On discharge he was told he would need a follow up appointment with gp in four weeks time and a blood test. They gave him a form and told him to phone hospital for an appointmemt. Hospital are not doing blood tests at the moment, oy for active chemo patients. He was given an email address and told to email for an appointment. He emailed on 30th June. His blood test is next week! So much for a four week check up.
OP, I hope you can get this sorted. It really isn't good enough that people are receiving sub standard health care.