Do GPs get notified of positive tests these days?

[BotCrossHuns]

I know that it used to be all your covid tests went on your NHS record and GPs could access that. But now that testing isn't required and nobody does PCRs, do they still record all of that? Are positive LFTs flagged up in some way to the surgery, or does it just go into your record?

I tested positive this week and registered the result on the gov.uk website. I see that it is now on my records (can see this via the NHS app). So it looks like a gp could see the same on your record.

interesting. I can't see anything on my NHS app, but I dont' have access to the records on it as my surgery doesn't allow that.
I wondered if positives were somehow flagged, rather than them just being able to see the results if they went looking for them.

I can't even find the bit on the NHS app where all my tests were shown, and I know that I used to be able to see them, every single LFT that I'd ever reported, etc. Have they removed that?

It would be more useful if they just sent GPs notices of the positive tests, so that they could check if anyone was especially vulnerable or needed anti-virals or whatever.

You can still see them but you have to look under travel pass then view Covid records.

Ah thanks, just found them on the app

Does that mean you can get recovery certificates from self reporting positive LFT's?

I'm not sure about that; I read somewhere that the fact they were self-administered LFTs was going to be added to your record so that that might not happen, becasue some countries wouldn't accept them if so.

I'm not sure if recovery certificates are even still a thing that they do, given the lack of testing, but then I haven't needed one as I'm triple vaxxed.

I got a personal text from my GP the day after I submitted my positive test.

Didn’t say much but had my dob on it and what to do if I had any queries on my symptoms

They definitely do if the person reporting is potentially eligible for the advanced covid treatments (ie the seriously immune suppressed) and in those cases the GP might ring to ensure the person understands the assessment pathway, and to give instructions on when/how to call in if symptoms become more severe (rapid admission is sometimes indicated for this group)

Otherwise, I don't think they bother, even if the info is theoretically available

I had Covid back in April. They had recently stopped recording it all.

The only reason mine is now on my medical records is because it left me with a chest infection for which I needed antibiotics.

I don’t think many people even register their lateral flow tests now so the Gp wouldn’t know

@OnTheBoardwalk me too. Tested positive at the beginning of the week registered the result online and had follow up text from doctors surgery asking me to let them know if I needed any support or information.

I reported mine online but never heard anything from GP. I don't think I'd be eligible for any treatments (group 6 so not specially vulnerable) but I was fine anyway. I was curious if they'd know though.

Well yes, if you register your lateral flow is positive than your GP gets notified. If your a dick and don't do that then your GP isn't going to get a notification.

My GP called within two hours of me registering my LFT so it's quite immediate.

How would most people be able to report it though? I only could because I had spare nhs tests left over so mine were official ones that you could register in the old way. I'm not sure new ones can be if you buy them at Tesco.

I expect mine will be recorded in my records as a result. But no messages from surgery or accessing my records so presumably they don't look at the results that come to them unless there is some need.

I had no idea you could still report them

I tested positive last week, I bought my test from Morrisons, assumed I couldn't report it.

i had it last week. Registered my positive LF on the covid gov site and my gp text me the day after and sent me an oximeter.

I just looked it up, and it says you can't report paid-for tests to the NHS, but some of the testing companies might have their own sites you can report it to. (What happens then, I don't know!).

I guess the people reporting mostly have spare NHS ones still in the cupboard, like I did. I tested quite often afterwards out of curiosity to see when I'd get a negative test, but I probably shouldn't have used the nhs ones for that but ones I'd bought, in case I need the NHS ones in the future.

I do wonder if they will bring testing back, or at least reporting on the NHS site, if they really do want to get on top of this new wave and at least encourage people to isolate when they've got it. I don't think they'll bring back forcing people to isolate, unless it gets a lot worse, but if they brought back testing, then i think some people would voluntarily test and isolate to an extent - most people really don't want to spread it or harm vulnerable family and friends, and would like to know if that's what they've got; not everyone can isolate, but the ones who can might well do it if they knew, and put up with some inconvenience if it would make a difference.

@BotCrossHuns that makes perfect sense. I did have some paid for tests but had used them up. My mum came round (in the garden) with a couple of NHS tests she still had and I used one of them to test and report

if I hadn’t have tested myself then I would have been in very close contact with 50 people the next day. Doing the test meant I was able to isolate myself

Sounds like my GP is the unusual one then in not getting in contact at all.