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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

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

62 replies

Nevermay · 17/08/2023 17:29

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.

OP posts:
Original poster
Nevermay · 17/08/2023 21:35

panko · 17/08/2023 20:20

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

well it is urgent enough for all my chemo next week to have to be cancelled, so that's not great, is it

OP posts:
LongTermLurker · 17/08/2023 21:38

Sorry to hijack thread, but is there any good reason why NHS Scotland didn't have the app for viewing medical records?

LongTermLurker · 17/08/2023 21:39

@Nevermay yes that really is shit. Poor you.

Pollyputhekettleon · 17/08/2023 21:51

Elsiebear90 · 17/08/2023 20:57

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.

Dr Google does a far better job than many medical professionals. And it's a matter for the patient to decide whether they want their raw results or whether they want to wait for someone to interpret it for them. We're not children.

justasking111 · 17/08/2023 21:54

Roosmarjin · 17/08/2023 17:39

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

I had to wait until I saw the asthma nurse so asked. The results were normal

Happygerbil · 17/08/2023 22:01

@Nevermay if your chemo has been cancelled your Oncology team must know what's going on. Why don't you phone your specialist nurse

Original poster
Nevermay · 17/08/2023 22:02

Happygerbil · 17/08/2023 22:01

@Nevermay if your chemo has been cancelled your Oncology team must know what's going on. Why don't you phone your specialist nurse

it was her that rang me and refused to say anything

OP posts:
ILoveMyCaravan · 17/08/2023 22:03

My GP surgery only say if the results are "normal" over the phone, but won't give the actual numbers etc. If it's not good news you are asked to make an appointment.

Bonfire23 · 17/08/2023 22:03

For me it was

A letter saying I needed an appointment but not urgent - low vitamin D (like on the floor single digit low)
A phone call asking where I was and to go to hospital now - no neutrophils

My dad had blood tests and the doctor turned up at home and also sent an ambulance Blush the paramedics practically bundled him in as he was asking if he could finish work first

Qilin · 17/08/2023 23:06

Yamaya · 17/08/2023 17:35

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

Not all GP surgeries are signed up to that part of the NHS app.
Mine have never been on, unfortunately. All I can see if what medication I've been prescribed, and my repeat prescription medication.

Qilin · 17/08/2023 23:10

Elsiebear90 · 17/08/2023 20:57

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.

It can also cause a lot of unnecessary panic and worry when patients are told their results require a GP to discuss them, but you can't see them for nearly 2 weeks. Most patients already realise that there must be an abnormality if the GP is requesting them to come in, rather than just saying 'all fine' or even just not contacting you.

Original poster
Nevermay · 18/08/2023 07:24

This is all I've thought about all night and it is all I can think about this morning. I'm going to be like this for two weeks now, aren't I. 😰

OP posts:
bluecorn · 18/08/2023 07:29

In your place, with chemo on the line, that's a bit different from waiting to find out if you have anaemia or something. I'd be calling them every day.

Summerrainagain1 · 18/08/2023 07:29

Pollyputhekettleon · 17/08/2023 20:15

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.

The problem is that now they are far too busy to care for you. So you either get no care, or take some charge of it yourself.

OP, I hate this too. I've had so many situations where I was waiting for test results and the timing was important, and I just couldn't move ahead because I had to wait for the GP to call me, except the GP has no appointments so can't. I'd be happy to receive the correct care, but in the clear absence of that just give me the data so I can take action as needed.

Also, often, you are told at the testing that you will only be contacted if there is an issue, and then quite often you are contacted to say the results are in and you need to talk to the GP, only to then worry for weeks and there to be no issue.

mycatsanutter · 18/08/2023 07:34

@Nevermay I'm a GP receptionist, I think you should ring back again today tell them how worried you are and ask the receptionist if she could please nip to the on call doctor and ask for their comments on the results . I find it v. frustrating when people ask for results and it says they need a call back and there isn't one for 3 weeks 😩

Tableaufox · 18/08/2023 07:36

OP you can get a copy of your results. You can just walk in and ask for a printed copy. You have a right to this. I always do it so I can google whilst I wait.

Summerrainagain1 · 18/08/2023 07:37

OP, now I think about it, you are legally entitled to access your meedical records. You could ask them to disclose them to you on that basis.

Original poster
Nevermay · 18/08/2023 07:41

Summerrainagain1 · 18/08/2023 07:37

OP, now I think about it, you are legally entitled to access your meedical records. You could ask them to disclose them to you on that basis.

I did think about that, but I think the legal time limit for a response is more than two weeks anyway

OP posts:
Neverseenbefore · 18/08/2023 07:51

In your circumstances, and having had your chemo cancelled, I presume as a result of the blood test, I’d be asking for an emergency urgent appointment. Have you told the receptionist you have cancer?

Pollyputhekettleon · 18/08/2023 07:53

Summerrainagain1 · 18/08/2023 07:29

The problem is that now they are far too busy to care for you. So you either get no care, or take some charge of it yourself.

OP, I hate this too. I've had so many situations where I was waiting for test results and the timing was important, and I just couldn't move ahead because I had to wait for the GP to call me, except the GP has no appointments so can't. I'd be happy to receive the correct care, but in the clear absence of that just give me the data so I can take action as needed.

Also, often, you are told at the testing that you will only be contacted if there is an issue, and then quite often you are contacted to say the results are in and you need to talk to the GP, only to then worry for weeks and there to be no issue.

Show quote history

It's not an overload problem. We have the same issue in Ireland and have had forever. We have overloaded GPs now too, just like you, but that's very recent. It's a medical profession arrogance problem. No one should have to wait any length of time to see their own medical data.

Limetreee · 18/08/2023 07:53

Go to the surgery and ask for a print out of your results. Our surgery doesn’t post them online, so I always ask for one and keep them for a record.

ArcticSkewer · 18/08/2023 07:54

Are you able to go to the surgery and get a print out of the results?

I always do that.

Summerrainagain1 · 18/08/2023 07:58

Nevermay · 18/08/2023 07:41

I did think about that, but I think the legal time limit for a response is more than two weeks anyway

Show quote history

Yes, of course it's a pain to made a formal request and will take some time. But perhaps go there and ask for a print out and remind them you have a legal right to see them if they object. That's what I would do anyway, as I am such a worrier I would spend the next days or weeks worrying about nothing else otherwise.

RiverLen · 18/08/2023 08:05

Results can be given over the phone. However, a consultation with a gp, whether in person or by phone, is still an appointment. Ie. Still using doctors time. Therefore, giving the results over the phone may not be any quicker if the gp hasn’t got any routine appointment slots free sooner.

RiverLen · 18/08/2023 08:07

However, I’d also want a sooner appointment if it’s connected with chemo.