If you've had to have tests at the hospital for whatever reason could you come and give me some advice please?

[ResultsConfusion]

Hi, wondering if anyone will be able to offer me some advice please?

If you've had tests, for whatever reason, at the hospital, how did you receive your results? In letter form/over the phone or were they sent to your gp and explained during a gp appointment?

The reason I ask is that I had a colonoscopy and endoscopy in December and I'm just feeling really confused by the way the results have been given to me. I went private because I was in a lot of pain and wanted to be seen sooner. During the initial consultation the consultant listed some conditions he would test for (by taking biopsies during the procedure and sending them off for testing) as they matched my symptoms and he booked me in for an endoscopy and colonoscopy.

Three weeks later and I still hadn't received any results and was unable to contact the consultant (this was over Christmas and I guess he'd taken time off). I remembered that the consultant had asked for my gp's contact information and said he'd send my results to them too so I phoned my gp surgery and they said that yes, they had received my results and that the tests were all clear, results fine, no further action..

Anyway, the next day I received a letter from the consultant to say that my biopsies showed that I had inflammation of an uncertain nature that needed to be investigated (obviously was really confused as had been told something completely different by my gp). So I booked an appointment with my gp to discuss what the next step should be.

When I spoke to my gp at the appointment he couldn't understand why the consultant had told them that there was no further action yet on my letter he said that there was inflammation. The gp asked what exactly the consultant had tested for so that we could rule out any conditions that came back with a negative results. He said I should have a comprehensive list of what was tested for and whether there was a positive or negative result.

So, I contacted the consultant's secretary and asked her if I could have a list of what the consultant had tested for. And lo and behold, the consultant hadn't tested for one of the things he had said he was going to. This was actually the condition that was the most important to rule out and the one that he most suspected was causing my symptoms. He then gave other information in the letter that didn't quite add up and it was although he was talking about another patient (don't want to say too much incase it outs me but basically said he'd taken tissues from an area where I wasn't aware he had been investigating). And furthermore the letter wasn't laid out like a comprehensive list, it was a bit 'wishy-washy' and very confusing to make sense of.

So, I replied via email and asked
1.why that particular condition hadn't been tested for.

1. could the consultant confirm that he had taken tissue from the area mentioned above (where I hadn't known he was taking tissue from)

And 3.I asked again if I could have a comprehensive list for my gp of the conditions tested for and whether they were negative or positive.

So, I received an email today from the secretary saying that the consultant won't email me because he feels like things can be misunderstood in an email. I mean wtf?! How can a list of tests and their results be misunderstood. I am more likely to misunderstand something over the telephone.

I know it probably sounds like I'm being arsey wanting it in writing rather than discussing it over the telephone but the fact that he won't put it in writing makes me suspect that he's done something wrong? I think he forgot to test for the condition he was supposed to test for. And actually doesn't have a clue what he tested for as he seems to be all over the place. But even without my suspicions I would still want something in writing to show my gp and to have for any future consultations I attend as I'll be going back to the nhs now. My gp and any other hcps I see regarding this are going to want concrete information of what tests ive already have, not something I've jotted down on a piece of paper during a telephone conversation with my consultant.

So, what I am asking of you, is how were your results presented to you? Were they reeled off over the phone or did you have written confirmation sent to either you or your gp?

I'm sorry this has been so long and boring and thank you so much if you read it all.

Thanks in advance for any replies, I'd be really grateful for any advice.

Any tests I have had done usually results are delivered at the next appointment or via gp depends on who requested the tests.

This has been hugely confused because you went private - the system doesn't cope well with that.

Theoretically, if you'd been having the tests through the NHS, the consultant would have ordered the tests, and both the consultant and your GP would receive notification of exactly what was being tested for, using what tests, and when.

The consultant would then be updated with the results, and would either write to you letting you know that they were clear and you didn't need another appointment, or you'd be given an appointment to go and discuss the results. The results would also be sent to the GP.

For some tests, you may skip the appointment with your consultant and be asked to see your GP instead - usually because the treatment can be administered by the GP and it's quicker to get an appointment with them. That's usually for very common conditions only.

Thank you both for your replies.

it does make it more complicated that it was with a private hospital, you're right. And there was me thinking it would be a quicker and easier process.

infinity, when you say rhe consultant would've been notified of what was being for, do you mean by the lab? So basically the consultant orders the tests and takes the tissue and then awaits confirmation from the lab of what was tested?

Thanks in advance.

i was given endoscopy results straight away - no biopsy needed

Coincidently I've just rung our Gps to find out the results of my sons blood test and the receptionist informed me that I needed to make an appointment to discuss the results with the Doctor. I asked her if anything was wrong and she listed what had come back negative, stupidly I did not catch what was out of sink.It sounds very shoddy treatment from a private Practice.

Sorry loads of typos in there and not written very well, on my phone now. What I mean is that it was my consultant who ordered the tests and took the tissues so does he then tell the lab what to test for and then wait for the lab to confirm that they did test for those things and what the results of the tests are?
Thanks.

Yes - it seems convoluted but it's just in case something couldn't be tested for, or you refused the test, for example.

The letter confirming what was tested for has to be written anyway, to go on your medical notes, so the consultant is CC'd, as is your GP.

Thank you, that makes sense. I will keep pushing for something in writing.

wfrances, he was testing for specific conditions so needed to take tissue samples. Glad yours was more straightforward!

mumofthemonsters, hope you can get some clarity when you see your gp and that your ds is okay .

I'm a hospital based doctor and we always inform the patient directly of results of any investigations we have arranged. This may be in person, by phone or in writing depending on the nature of the test.

We would not use the GP to convey the result. Partly because of the risk of misinterpretation.

I think in your case it might be easiest for you to speak to your consultant first rather than continuing to insist on an email. You could then ask for him to dictate a letter detailing your investigation results and the outcome of your conversation.

Thank you Annie. That certainly.makes sense.

Normally I would be happy to discuss the results over the telephone, in fact the consultant was supposed to telephone after the procedure and I was happy to hear the results this way then. But, with all the things that have gone on since then I'm worrying that he is going to try and talk himself out of it on the telephone. And I'd really just like something in writing and can't understand why he won't do it.

Results - I must admit I would think it a bit strange if someone declined to speak to me on the phone and insisted on an email response. Sometimes it is much easier to explain things verbally - particularly if it is a complex situation.

Why don't you book another appointment to see him?