If you've had an MRI, how long was the wait for the results?

[2kidsintow]

I do generally trust the medical profession, but also have a history of imprtant things going astray/being missed.

I had a hip x ray. Phoned GP for results, they didn't have them. Then they called me to say they were all clear . Then they called me back and said they showed a problem on my spine. No hip problem identified.

3 YEARS later I've been through lots of waiting and lots of physio that has made things worse. Then a consultant looks at the xray and shows me what is wrong. It's clear once I knew what I was looking for and secretly wonder who should have spotted this 3 years ago.

The MRI is for a separate issue, but it's been 3 weeks since I had the scan and no letter yet. My friend had the same scan at the same place last year and got her results in 2 weeks.

I'm wondering at what point I need to phone someone up and queery when my results will be available. I believe my neurologist needs to look at the results and writes me a letter, so perhaps he's the first call.

I'd call on Monday.

Good luck.

4 months luckily there was nothing wrong but they were available to consultant very quickly, she just didn't get the info out to me.

Blimey. That's a wait!

I have the email address of my consultant as I originally saw him privately. Am holding back on using that for a little longer though.

Call your neurologist's secretary.

Thanks. Will it seem pushy if it's only been 3 weeks? And how do I phrase it more politely than "where the heck are my results?"

Your consultant's secretary will be used to people phoning for results.

I've called asking for results before - once because it was nearly Christmas and I hoped for peace of mind for a Christmas present and just in case the results weren't good, in which case I was going to ask what was going to happen.

Really the consultant or scanning team should give you some idea of when you're going to hear. Sometimes they do.

No not at all. 3 weeks is a bit pushing it a bit, imo. And I work for the NHS! Every week I see people who have waited 3 years ignoring some sort of symptoms, finally go to their GP, get referred, then, post 'tests' (blood tests, Xrays, scans etc), go ape when they're told 'the results will take a week to 10 days'... after you've happily waited 3 years?? BUT I also hear of people who apparently never got the results of a previous test which makes me wonder why they didn't think to chase them up? There's 'patience' and there's patience!

Well, I suppose I've become and impatient patient and will be making the call in the morning. :)

Hope it goes well 2kids.

3 weeks won't seem pushy at all.

We often advise our patients to ring our secretary if they haven't heard about an appointment/ scan etc after a certain time as a back up.

Iirc, DS1's recent MRI results took 2 weeks

Grrr.... frustrated.

Phoned secretary's number from the letter - disconnected tone.
Phoned another number on the letter - got the secretary's answer phone. Left message. No reply received.

Phoned again in the afternoon. Phone answered - by another secretary. Neuro's secretary only works mornings. Please leave a message.

Have given in and emailed the neuro on his direct email address that I used when I was arranging to see him privately in the first place.

Sounds about right. After all, why would you want to know the result of your own scan?

I know. I am clearly being very unreasonable.

No, 2kidsintow- step back! I have already said that waiting 3 weeks is 'pushing it', so don't get antsy!! you have to remember that the NHS we pay for via our NI, is largely staffed by part time, middle aged women. The ones who will put up with the rubbish that is the modern NHS!! The ones who have to work part time to deal with DC, and elderly parents, just like everyone else. The ones who the current Health Secretary (the 'Hunt'!) has deemed unworthy of a cost-of-living-payrise; The ones who, by and large do actually care. Don't go assuming that an 'answer-phone' = no response- is the case until you actually know that!

:) Tansie.

Not irate, just resigned.

The system is flawed. My friend had her MRI and her results from the same machine/consultant etc within 2 weeks, but then her further referral went astray. My daughter had to be referred TWICE to the dental hospital when the first letter went astray.

Frustrating is all.

Inefficient systems, not necessarily the people operating within the system. If you get it done privately the scan disc is given to you on departure and report within 48 hours.

Had reply from neurologist.

He's yet to see my results. No sign. He's going to chase it up.