why can't test results be given over the phone?

[Nevermay]

Message to say doctor needs to speak to me about blood test results- appointment in 10 days time

AIBU to think I should be told why now, and not have to wait 10 days? Its a load of worry, and (hopefully) may be all for nothing.

Exactly, just fucking tell me over the phone so I can research in time for the next appointment as then I will be more able to discuss options.

Exactly! Its my body, tell me!

Would it be on the nhs app? I don't know if they'd update thst first or after

Download the NHS and you can check your results first.

My surgery gives test results over the phone.

Not everyone has access to their medical record on the app, I don't. Some practices don't give access.

I think they like to see you in person if something shows up that they need to discuss, but it's bad you have to wait 10 days.

I can view mine but they're in medical speak.

I too am waiting for an appointment about blood test results. The last time this happened they decided there was nothing wrong and it was a false positive. I had to wait 3 weeks to be told that

Might it be because it may be someone else that answers the phone and if they gave it to someone who pretended to be you they’d be in lot of shit?
Don’t know, it’s just a guess but I they always call from an unknown number and don’t leave voicemails so no one else will be able to know you’ve had a call from your doctors. I may have just made that up too 😂

The NHS app is sometimes good to find raw test results, but they are uploaded at variable times and often after the appointment.

One of the drawbacks of the NHS is that it infantilises patients (one of the reason I favour copayments). Ultimately, medical tests are your data, and should be given to you as soon as possible after they are known.

Same happened to me. 3 weeks until appointment. I happened to have another appointment (6-8 week check) and I asked about them and was told “oh yeah there’s an anomaly so you need to come back and talk to <other GP> about them”. I’m like… can’t you tell me now?! But then they also couldn’t measure DS, despite my having his tape measure because the health visitor needed to do it so I had to make an extra appointment with the health visitor and an extra appointment with the GP. So… you know… that didn’t waste anyone’s time…

Healthcare is paternalistic. They're 'caring' for you by insisting that you need them to interpret the result for you. Otherwise you might go googling it and frightening your silly little self. It's not an NHS thing unfortunately, it's a medical profession culture thing.

I work as a GP receptionist - we're not allowed to give results out. It has to be done by a GP.

We've been told to say as we're not clinicians it isn't appropriate.

I'm assuming there would be legal repercussions / insurance issues if we read out the numbers wrong or interpreted the information incorrectly.

It's frustrating for us too - especially if we can tell the patient is worried and can see the results are absolutely fine.

At my practice all results are given on the phone. If it's clear the receptionist does it, if there is an issue, the GP does it.

Is it because the GP needs to tell you the results and possibly examine you at the same time? Reception staff couldn't give results out other to say they were normal because they are not qualified to answer any questions you might have over abnormal results.
Hope it's all OK for you and if it was anything that bad they wouldn't make you wait 10 days.

It's not urgent or they'd be telling you to come in same day

Have you seen the state if the NHS? There's a 3 year waiting list for an autism assessment for children

Yes, to this^ and it’s the only thought which usually keeps me sane until the actual appointment.

My gp makes appt if it’s not ‘urgent’ eg low iron or just out of range. Anything serious they would phone asap.

I’m a GP receptionist and we can give out results as in ‘normal, no further action required’ but not the readings themselves as we’re not clinicians so can’t interpret them. We can however email those readings to you.

If a test comes back abnormal our GPs will make a note such as ‘urgent call back’ or ‘routine’ so we can fit patients onto call lists according to the urgency of what needs to be relayed. If a result comes back abnormal it can also be marked as ‘as expected’ or ‘needs to repeat test in 2/3 weeks to compare results’ as well, so we can pass that information on.

If it’s an urgent issue you’d get a call as soon as the GP checks the results, anything you’re being offered a follow up call for as routine probably isn’t urgent but does need discussion.

Yeah that isn't great. People are going to panic.

Because most people don’t understand results because they aren’t medically trained, Google is not a replacement for a medical professional, receptionists aren’t trained to interpret results and answer any questions about them. From my experience as a HCP it causes a lot of unnecessary panic and worry to give patients abnormal results without explaining them.

Yes. I'm in the same situation. Awaiting blood test results- also offered an appointment in 10 days time.

I can see the results on the nhs app but they are confusing.

AND I still feel like absolute crap, would rather not wait another 10 days to get to the bottom of why? The bloods may well be fine but then another course of investigation may need persuing? @Ski4130 Do receptionists not understand this point?

Yes I have. I am unfortunately a regular user. They don't consider autism assessment for children "urgent". Whether they should or not is a matter for debate.

If there is something for OP to be concerned about in the immediate future they will be seeing or speaking to her urgently. If it can wait 10 days it will not be something that could do harm if it waits 10 days.

Whether we understand your point or not receptionists don’t make the decision about when the GP speaks to you, and we’re not clinicians so can’t interpret blood work results, that’s why. Pretty sure none of our patients would appreciate me giving it a go either, when I’ve had exactly 0 years medical training. A GP gets your results, a GP decides whether it’s urgent or routine to speak to you - it’s actually weird that anyone would think it was a receptionists decision to be honest.

Thanks for the suggestion, but nothing has been put on the app yet. I will keep checking though