Annual Review Blood Test

[Claricus]

Hi

So I have my blood test for my annual review next week. I then need my appointment with a nurse for the rest, but I was told that I couldn't have that until 3 weeks after my blood test because they need the results back.

How long do blood test results usually take to come back?
Is this a standard wait? And should I really have to wait this long?

Really annoyed by this because the nurse doesn't even need to see my test results... I go through them with my doctor. (Oh, and last year there was only 1 week between these appointments)

 

[viviennem]

Mine are all back after about a week - the HbA1c takes longest. I go to the practice and ask at reception for a full print-out of them, which I now get without much difficulty - sometimes I have to train a new receptionist!

Once I've had a look at them, if there's anything I want to talk about I go to see my "own" GP. Because he know most about me as I tend to go only to him, it seems most logical to discuss things with him. I think that if there was anything that really troubled the Diabetes Specialist GP I'd get called in, but we do tend to avoid each other if possible.

I would be happy to see our practice nurse 'cos she knows a lot, but like you, the GPs review the results. Why not ask if your results are back in about a week's time, and then make an appointment with the doctor?

Viv 8)

 

[Claricus]

Thank you for confirming the time. I am now completely baffled why they want me to wait 3 weeks.

I go to see the nurse for the annual checkups (feet, weight, blood pressure etc) and she barely acknowledges my blood test results - which means it really is pointless for me to wait that long.

I have something else tested with my annual review as well which I will need to see my GP about anyway so I get it all sorted in one. I just don't really want to have to wait 4 weeks to see my GP. (I bet I will struggle to see my GP since my surgery refuse to make proper appointments and you get a telephone appointment on the day - I will then have to ask my GP to actually go in and see her)

I will attempt to rebook the nurse appointment when my bloods get done, if not then I'll insist on it when they have the results a week later.

 

[Daibell]

Hi. You appear to have one of the more hopeless surgeries; sorry! The HBA1C result should take a max of a week to come back. My surgery allows me to setup appointments with the DN, GP or both as needed but sometimes this may need to be 4 weeks ahead. My current DN is superb so can do everything with regard to my diabetes and last time I got an appointment within a week. It sounds like your GP and nurse haven't arranged sensible delegation or your DN isn't diabetes trained. Luckily my new DN nurse used to work in the hospital diabetes clinic and is a prescribing nurse so can do the lot. BTW I also ask reception for my HBa1C results if needed before any follow-up appointment; forewarned is forearmed.

 

[viviennem]

Our practice nurse is "appointment only" so I do sometimes have to wait a week. Usually I make my routine appointments with her a couple of months in advance to make sure I get the slots that I want. Next bloods September 5th at 09:00 - HbA1c and cholesterol. My review is in December.

Maybe yours is going on holiday, Claricus?

As for GPs' appointments - only at evening surgery. In the morning you simply turn up and wait. If you get there before 10:30 you'll be seen. In terms of numbers we are a small-ish practice with 2 full-time surgeries, which makes this possible. I've waited just as long in surgeries where I did have an appointment! The area our GPs cover is enormous - in the parish where I live, there are 0.01 people per hectare.

Many more sheep, of course! :wink:

Viv 8)

 

[noblehead]

How long do blood test results usually take to come back?Is this a standard wait? And should I really have to wait this long?

5 working days for blood and urine results seems the norm at most gp surgeries, can't imagine why yours would take 3 weeks Claricus :think: