Appointment?

[Benjilassi]

I had some routine bloods.
I checked the results myself on the NHS app. All fine (What you need to do: No action), apart from one which said "What you need to do: Other (Cholesterol high). Patient informed."

I wasn't informed (unless you count looking at the App). Waited a week to see if they would contact me, and then did an e-consult to query what "other" meant.

GP has got back to me (via e-consult) saying "There needs to be quite a long conversation about what we want to do about this (if anything), it would take me an hour to type it all out so a phone call or face to face meeting would be best."

Now I don't know whether I need to make an appointment myself of whether they will contact me.

I wonder if I didn't have the App whether I would have been contacted to discuss the high cholesterol. It's only just over the range so nothing urgent I don't think.
Maybe they don't take it further if it's just over? I don't want to make an appointment if it's not something they would normally discuss.

I’d just make an appointment. If it’s only just over you could always delay medication and make lifestyle changes first to see if you can bring it back down to a normal level (this is what my husband did)

GP was asking you to make an appointment, is how I interpret that.

Also, appointments are, what, 5-10 minutes... and would take an hour to type??? pmsl, how fast do they talk 🤣

Make an appointment. Or take steps to change your cholesterol levels.

At my surgery, you would now make a non urgent appointment. It sounds like you will discuss diet / lifestyle Vs medication and agree what you want to do.
They only get in touch to discuss if the action is more time critical.

My Dr also publishes the results on the app and that = patient informed.

It's not ideal but given the current level of demand GP surgeries are under, I find it a reasonable, low risk approach to test results.

Thanks. I'll change my diet I think.
I do not have any other risk factors for future heart problems so imagine the advice would be to reduce saturated fat in my diet and introduce more cholesterol happy foods.

Is it the case that just because a result is on the app it says "patient informed"? Some people would never think to check the app so would be blissfully ignorant of a result that might be concerning.

Yes, it is.
But eventually the patient will ring the surgery and ask and be told they're on the app. Then will check the app forever after because it is actually much easier and more informative than ringing.

My GP did ask whether I had the App and that I would be able to check it, so I think she knew I'd see the results. She didn't tell me what I was meant to do with abnormal results though. I guess (as Chewy says) since the result doesn't need urgent action, they wait for the patient to call.

I wish she had made it clear whose responsibility it was to follow up. I don't want to bother GPs and the surgery unnecessarily. Something like "suggest patient make non-urgent appointment".

Same- high blood pressure- found out via the app, no contact from the GP. Left to me to contact them to discuss treatment options. I wonder what happens to those who assume the doctor will let them know if something is wrong!!