If you are coming for a test we may ask you to prepare for it. These handy guides help can help you prepare for the test which helps us get as accurate and clear results as possible.
Test Procedure Instructions
Booking an Ultrasound or Echocardiogram
We will contact you directly to book these appointments, as they are not booked by the reception team.
Where possible we will confirm your appointment by SMS (which gives you the option to reply confirming you are able to attend or to request an alternative date/time), but if no mobile number is available we will contact you by telephone call or letter.
Please be aware that the waiting time for these appointments can be between 4-6 weeks.
Booking a Blood Test
To book a blood test please call the surgery between 2pm and 6:30pm – please do not call the surgery between 8am and 11:30am to book these appointments as the phone lines are extremely busy due to the release of our on-the-day GP appointments.
Weekday blood test appointments are available from 8am until 2:30pm but late afternoon blood tests are not available at the surgery due to the blood collection time (where the samples are transported to the lab).
However, we have appointments on Saturday mornings between 8am and 11am which are available for you to pre-book. If you are unable to attend any of these times, please speak to one of the reception team.
Top tips:
– As a rule, blood tests do not require you to fast. We will advise if you need to fast at the time of booking and provide you with the relevant information to fast appropriately.
– Please ensure you are well-hydrated for all blood test appointments.
Obtaining Results
Bloods
If your blood results are normal, we will not routinely contact you to advise you of this. We recommend calling after 2pm, Monday-Friday to ask for the results of your test, if you would prefer to have this confirmed.
If your blood results are abnormal, the GP may need to follow-up with you on the results or request further tests. The GP may send you a text message to advise you to book a routine follow-up appointment, or the reception team will call you directly if you have not provided us with a mobile number (but there may be a delay in this communication due to the amount of calls we are receiving), again, you are welcome to call us after 2pm to obtain this information.
Please note that blood results can take from 24hrs up to 5 working days to come back to the surgery depending on the tests that have been requested and the process for the lab to report on them.
Ultrasound / Echocardiogram
Your ultrasound and echocardiogram results will be sent to the requesting GP, these results will then be conveyed to you whether they are normal or abnormal and you will be advised if any follow-up is required. If you have not heard from the surgery with your results after 7 working days, please call the surgery after 2pm to follow this up.
Obtaining Test Results Requested by a Consultant or Hospital
These will go directly back to the requesting clinician and will not come directly to your GP. Please contact the consultant’s secretary or the hospital directly. We will receive an update from the consultant after your review appointment or upon discharge from the hospital setting.