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NHS blood tests - what is allowed?

nannoo_bird

Well-Known Member
Messages
215
I apologise if this has been covered, but I could not find anything in the Search. I am a T2 with other complications (Hashimotos, glucoma, neuropathy, high blood pressure, high cholesterol ......) and have seen a private doctor who has suggested a whole raft of blood tests. To have these done privately would cost over £800!!! My insurance will cover those not done as a matter of course under the NHS. Does anyone know where I can find any information on what blood tests I am ""entitled" to under the NHS as a T2? I just need access to a list of the blood tests available to me. I do not have a supportive GP practice, so I need to be informed before I ask for the tests. Thanks.
 
Sorry, not aware, but can I add I recommend your private doctor get a Subfraction Particle on your LDL cholesterol which will then show you the size of the particles. Small is bad, large is good irrespective of your LDL level. Maybe even a 25(OH)D serum test to check your bit D levels.

I am sure somebody will be along soon to advise on what is accepted under NHS standard terms.


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Hi. I'm no expert on this, but the NHS certainly covers blood tests for blood sugar (HBa1C) and cholesterol (including lipid breakdown). BP is checked using a BP test kit which you can buy. Glaucoma can be checked via an optician under the NHS. Neuropathy is initially checked by testing nerve sensitivity in the surgery and further tests would be covered by the NHS. I can't comment on Hashimotos
 

Thanks Kevin. Would these be done as blood tests?


Thanks Daibell, but I have a list of the tests requested by the private doctor and I need to see a list of the tests allowed on the NHS. For example, for the Hashimoto's, the NHS will do the basic (useless) thyroid function test, but I wll have to have the free T 3 and 4 done privately.
 

My approach would be to see my GP and tell him what had transpired, and ask for the tests the private Doc (assuming he was a practising, medically qualified, Doc, accessed via BUPA or such). As I'm also assuming your GP made the referral to the private Doc, so he would know something was in train? The worst he can do is decline to help.

When I have been making PMI claims, I have never had that sort of stipulation applied. If the Consultant wanted a test, he asked for it and I strolled down the corridor and had it done there and then.

I'm a bit curious as to how your private Doc will handle the NHS tests and their results. Would you be expected to bring a print out along with you, or would he be expecting your NHS GP to send them to him?

I know my UK, NHS GP will not take any notice of any tests not instructed by her, or done at any lab she is unfamiliar with. To be fair, these were Diabetic Panels done as an interim, overseas, with some of the metric reported on the US scales, rather than UK. I could understand that, and to be fair, there was nothing troublesome on the results anyway.

Good luck with it all.
 

Yes, both as blood tests. The Vit D research suggests over 70% of us and uk are either deficient or low. Any number on the test under 32 is too low. Ideally should be between 32 and 60 and if you are low you can supplement at around vit D3, 5000iu daily + 600 mic grams if Vit K2


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Thank you again AndBreathe. Just to clarify ... I have a very comprehensive private medical insurance which allows me to choose a private doctor without a referral, if allowed by the clinic. I found a private GP who practices at the Nuffield, and if I feel I need more than the 7 minutes allowed by our NHS practice, I go to see the private GP. It seems that if requested, all my records can be viewed online by any of my doctors. Of course, the private GP does not want to upset the apple cart, so she suggested I approach the NHS GP to get the approved blood tests done on the NHS, and the rest done privately. As there is the possibility of the NHS GP saying that if the private GP wants all these, get them all done privately, I want to be able to say - nicely!!! - that in fact as a T2, I am entitled to x, y and z to be done on the NHS. As the total list of blood tests runs to over £800, and I have to pay a percentage of these on the private insurance, I would like to have those I am entitled to done by the NHS, and as - for the moment - I have a less than cooperative doctor, I need to be informed.
 


I think any concept of entitled is probably a tricky one. Things like tests are done on a requirement basis (in other words, to diagnose x, y or z, blood test A is utilised). Things like routine health checks will go along almost a menu concept of standard tests. Many GPs may help out, but I don't believe they're requireed to do anything for any other Doc where they have not been involved in the preamble or referral.

I might be inclined to think you might find your GP unhelpful.

Are you due reviews for any of the things you're having bloods for, or are these all for "additional care/information"?
 

I'm not sure what is due - I would if I had access electronically to my records, which my practice does not allow!! However, I was told by my diabetes nurse that as a diabetic, I do have a "right" to annual checks.
 
nannoo_bird said:
I'm not sure what is due - I would if I had access electronically to my records, which my practice does not allow!! However, I was told by my diabetes nurse that as a diabetic, I do have a "right" to annual checks.
Click to expand...

These are the "15 Essentials" your nurse may be referring to. It's copied from the DUK website:

 
T3 and T4 is standard.
B12 and folate too.
Breakdown of cholesterol.
Vit D
Magnesium, potassium

All done on NHS... But they have to have a reason to suspect a b12/folate is needed.. And the same with vit D.
Even when done GPs can file as 'normal" when one itsm of 20 has an exclamation mark next to it.. I got access to view our blood test results online and always look at themin detail. Hubby once radically removed the heavy fats from his diet and he was on strong statin at the time.. Although there was an exclamation mark next to his HDL the GP filed as normal... He should have been taken off the statins...he was when I explained to the GP on his behalf.

The lists of tests available are huge... It would be easier to scan the tests you have been told and I could say yes or no...I've had so many tests I could fill a book with them...
 
donnellysdogs said:
The lists of tests available are huge... It would be easier to scan the tests you have been told and I could say yes or no...I've had so many tests I could fill a book with them...
Click to expand...

donnellysdogs, I might just do that, if you don't mind. It might be a couple of days, I'm a bit snowed under at the mo. Thank you so much.
 
In my opinion, there are few blood tests that are 'your right, on demand'. It's up to the GP to decide if other tests are justified. An annual Hba1c, cholestrol, U&Es, LFTs, would be minimum expected for a diabetic; FSH to check thyroid treatment, for example.

So, T4 might be checked, on request; T3 is rarely checked by GP as they (GPs) don't seem to appreciate that T3 might be relevant!

It would depend on how the GP justifies the relevance, and cost, of each test requested etc.
 
My T3 and T4 is checked annually.. Don't know why.

Sometimes our lab actually refuses if done within 6 months, say for B12 last month GP wanted it tested again thinking I may have low levels again but as it had been tested 3 months earlier the lab refused.

I did mention that teats would be for suscpicion or investigation for an illness but the OP says has private insurance that can do the rest.
 
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