GP mucked up my blood tests

[jt1952]

I feel like crying right now.

I saw my GP with a suspicion of an under active thyroid. He agreed with me and said he would book in the following blood tests:

FBC
Liver function
Renal function
Thyroid function
Tests for ferritin etc
Vitamin D
Cholesterol

I have had the blood test and got the results today. He only ordered FBC, renal function, liver function and HBA1C.

For full context I am overweight, I’ve lost 10 stone and I am still losing (intentionally). The GP has messaged to say the blood are all fine and as far as he’s concerned that’s the case closed. I can access my results.

I feel so frustrated that half the tests he promised haven’t been done. Now I need to start the entire process again, wait four weeks to speak to a GP and wait another four for a blood test, wait a week for the results and see if I actually get the tests I need.

AIBU to make a complaint? It really feels like he was trying to pull a fast one with the HBA1C, and blame this on me being pre-diabetic. In actual fact it’s at the bottom of a normal range!

Oh OP! Def petulant kid! I hope you manage to take a breath and have a think.

Why would you wait weeks for a blood test? Just ask for a new form and march to your nearest NHS phlebotomy service. Can all be done within hours.

Or he's just responding to what's in front of him on the screen, which is a set of normal blood results.

I dunno, why did I have to wait so long this time?

HbA1C tests are included as part of the basic “bloods” package. They wouldn’t test your kidney and liver function without an A1C. (Unless specifically testing for a reason) It’s not something they add on when they don’t like the look of someone.

But he should have seen, at that point, “oh I saw JT on 12th December, I said I would order XYZ and only X is back”, and then looked into what’s gone wrong.

Blood tests generally come in in batches- some results comes through quicker than others and when we review results we generally mark them off as they come in. So you could still have thyroid/ ferritin etc to come and vitamin D definitely takes a lot longer to come back (from our lab anyway.)

If they’re not visible on the app on Monday / Tuesday just phone the surgery to say looks like GP missed ticking a box and can you come in for the missing bloods. I can’t even begin to imagine that this would have been done deliberately.

It’s routine if you’re diabetic.

I get it OP. I went to my GP with suspected b12 deficiency having been diagnosed and treated for it in the past. I wanted them to test me again and also explore underlying causes. GP appeared to agree on my phone consult, ordered blood tests and tested everything under the sun EXCEPT b12. They’re so annoying and dismissive.

Agree with other posters that you should take a stance of assuming it was human error and politely request they order the correct blood test as a matter of urgency.

Or maybe he knows Y and Z are on their way back so doesn't see the need to do anything else yet.

This is exactly what’s happened to me. Phone consult, agreed it sounds like thyroid issues, and then not bothered to test.

so now I get to cost the nhs a ton more money due to their inadequacies. You can’t make it up

then he shouldn’t be reporting that the bloods are normal and he doesn’t need to see me again.

They're routine for everyone. I had full bloods done twice this year and had my HBA1C done both times.

Boots the chemist though?

You've ignored the couple of posts advising you that you can get home test for less than a tenner?

My GP reviews each set of results as they come in and marks each one as normal/aware/needs follow up. Often FBC first, consultation saying 'bloods normal'. Then up to hours or days later, each other batch. Like I said before, very likely the first batch are fine and the others just aren't back yet

Just checking have you actually spoken to the surgery to get your results or just seen them on the NHS app? I only ask because I had blood tests recently and FBC and a couple of others showed results on my app a day or two before all the rest.

For goodness sake.

The bloods HE HAD IN FRONT OF HIM are the ones that are normal and that don't require any further action. He can't message you about bloods that aren't available to him 😒

Then he should wait until they’re all back! It’s that simple. By sending a message that states everything is normal and no further follow up is necessary, he is implying they are all back and fine.

Of course. It’s also routine if you’re not diabetic.

Not according to my local NHS trust.

So you have spoken to whom?
Check your medical notes on the NHS app. It will have the record of the consultation.

cant you just send a message, or drop a note through?

Yes, I agree with you.

(Do bear in mind that the GP is human and most likely overworked if not burnt out. The NHS is a truly hellish place to work.)

I'm starting to get the impression that having a bit of a moan with lots of people is doing you more good than any blood test right now. Which is TOTALLY valid and I'm here for it. BUT if you do at some point want to sort this out, give your practice a quick buzz. It should be easy. Ask about community phlebotomy. Good luck!

I spoke with my GP back in December. He ordered all these tests. It’s reflected in my app that he agreed to them.

they’ve now not been carried out. They left me a voicemail to say it’s all normal and no further follow up is needed.

I understand (I work in the NHS myself).

but if he’s unable to order simple routine bloods he needs to take a leave of absence until such time as he can manage the pressures because it shouldn’t get to this point! What if these were tests like a PSA test?

Everytime Ive gone to the GP with fatigue I've had an HbA1C and Im a healthy weight. Its absolutely a routine thing to check if checking your thyroid function.

My TFTs and ferritin took a day longer to come through on my NHS app than my FBC last time. Although they were marked off at the same time by the GP

There's all sorts of things that could have happened and before throwing your toys out the pram I'd wait and see, and call them on Monday. Your Gp is not deliberately not testing your thyroid and there's absolutely no reason they'd prefer to diagnose you with diabetes over an underactive thyroid