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The time it takes for test results.

P

pedro606

Well-Known Member
Hi,

I have been having issues with my Health Centre over the length of time it took to inform me of my test results. In fact, it was only when I rang the for something completely different and then asked about the GTT results did I find out!

I had a GTT last Dec 9th. The hospital told me the GP would have the results by 13th Dec. I heard nowt till I rang third week in January. I complained through the Local Health Board and had a letter from the Health Centre Manager this morning. She stated that Xmas and New Year were a major factor in the delay. However, she patronsingly told me that following my complaint they have ammended their policy actioning test results. Now they will be done between 4 to 6 weeks with a 'get-out clause inserted' "depending on workload". She did not mention what the timescales were before my complaint! If she did then it could be put into some sort of perspective.

I think this is outrageous that they can 'legally' take 4 to 6 weeks to let us know.

Are their any Government Guidelines and procedures relating to all this as I find it all unacceptable.

Do you guys have any idea?

Pete
 
They come back from the hospital in quick time , say, 4 to 5 days. The problem is with the surgery. The Health Centre Manager and the quack seem to think they need 4 to 6 weeks and that is only if workload allows that.

I really need to find out if that is permissable. How can they have people sitting at home waiting and waiting, depending on workload, of course, if their tests are positive or not.

Doctors salries were raised to a minimum of £100k per annum a couple of years back for them to meet Government targets etc. I honestly cannot believe my Health centre can get away with this.

I need to know more before I can let the Local Health Board know that I have not accepted their explaination and want it investigated further.

Peter
 
Hi pedro.
Why don't you phone the P.C.T. and make it a general enquiry and ask how long clients can expect to wait for blood test results? Don't name your surgery or any particular Doctor and see what they say.
My bloods are taken at the local hospital, I ring a week later and have the results. If my Doctor is concerned about anything I have a letter within 5 days of having my bloods taken asking me to make an appointment with him to discuss the results.
There may not be a hard and fast rule about this so the general enquiry will tell you what you want to know.
Hope this helps,
Catherine.
 
catherine,

Yes, that is very sound advice. I just hope the Primary Care Trusts cover Wales as well as England. With all this devolution and Welsh Assembly etc I have my doubts. Anyway, I will do as you suggest. At least then I will have an idea.

Through a friend of a friend I have found out that a particular GP in London actually actions test results more or less the same day as he receives them but did go on to say that fellow GP's in the prcactice are 'more laid back' (his words).

I must find out if there is a 'guideline' that must be followed. I have to have something concrete to go on.

Thanks,

Pete
 
Let us know how you get on.

Our test results usually come back from the lab within days, and the GP will often ring them through without being asked.

Once when mother was seriously ill the GP did a test with an almost immediate result, and on that basis sent us to the hospital for an immediate chest X-ray, with instructions that they were to tell us/her the result on the spot (potential blood clot on the lung and D-dimer was inconclusive)

The patronising twerp at the hossie told us they couldn't possibly tell US the results as we were mere patients, and since it was urgent they would contact our GP within a few days rather than the standard 3 weeks.

GP was fuming and rang them back immediately. The X-ray result was also "inconclusive" she wanted to see the pictures herself but they refused, they told her the most she could expect was a written interpretation. Three days was their fastest turnaround.

We got mother into a different hospital immediately (they wouldn't contradict the other one by saying for definite whether she had a pulmonary embolism or not but they did treat her with heparin as well as antibiotics)

I suspect to save money they will use the cheapest available lab rather than the fastest, and like the Post Office if the queue isn't long enough they will sack some staff until it is.
 
Trink,
It is amazing what these GP's and hospitals get away with. The problem is that we put all our trust in them and take everything on the chin. Enough was enough for me. The GP messed up big time during my eventual diagnosis of cancer a couple of years back. 6 months were lost due to their incompetence.

As regards the GTT test results- I cannot let them get away with that even though probably in the end nothing will change.

I got back to the Local Health Board and explained my displeasure etc. For some reason the sysytem of Primary Care trusts is different in Wales. However, they agreed with me and will try to find out if there are any 'targets' and 'directives' set down for GP's to follow when it comes to test results etc. I am waiting for them to get back to me. I did ring them again today but had to talk to an answerphone.

Surely my surgery cannot be allowed a system of results being actioned by the GP to be between 4 to 6 weeks and only then if the 'workload' allows. That is crass incompetence in any language.

What is strange is that I had a letter from the surgery today advising me to make an appointment for a FBC (full blood count) in six months time following my previous one on 9th Feb. However, their computer system does not allow them to make 'bookings' 6 months in advance and I am to ring closer to the date.

That FBC was organised by me on 9th, not them, because I have to have blood taken before my 3 monthly check-up at the cancer consultant. He needs a FBC. I actually have my next one in May and will have to arrange a FBC then. The strange thing is is that they have access to all this info on their computer file of me.

Basically, they are useless. The Health Centre Manager was obviously trying to impress me! What a complete idiot she is. Problem is that a bit of nepotism is at play in the surgery. She is the wife of a recently retired quack who worked in the same surgery. The plot thickens.

Pete
 
Having experience of working in a pathology laboratory I can say that glucose tests including GTT's are normally done on the same day they are received. Results should also be sent out the same day or possible the following day.

Most hospitals have a courier run to pick up samples and drop off results ( I'm not sure if results are available electronically - it was something being worked on when I was last in a lab 8 years ago)

Some tests are done on a weekly basis or when there are sufficient samples available for testing, others may have to be sent to specialised centres for analysis.

The majority of results should be available within 3 to 4 days - several weeks is ridiculous

You could try phoning your local hospital and asking them what their turnover time is for particular tests
 
Aad,
Yes, you're right. The hospital did send the results a couple of days after the test to my Health Centre.

It is at the Health Centre where it all fell down and probably still falls down. To tell me that after they receive results it takes 4 to 6 weeks for the GP to action them and that is only if the workload allows. I cannot and will not let them get away with this nonsense.

I am still waiting for a call from the Local Health Board to see if they have managed to find out if there are any targets set for Health Centres. It's funny really as these GP's are quick to get us on Statins and the like to meet Government targets and probably get a bonus in the offering- or is that me being a tad cynical!

Pete
 
pedro606 said:
To tell me that after they receive results it takes 4 to 6 weeks for the GP to action them and that is only if the workload allows.
Click to expand...

If they have requested tests for whatever reason then they should review those results when they are received back at the surgery - not to do so is potentially life threatening.

One solution now you know is to phone the surgery for your results several days after the tests have been taken.
 
Trinkwasser said:
The patronising twerp at the hossie told us they couldn't possibly tell US the results as we were mere patients, and since it was urgent they would contact our GP within a few days rather than the standard 3 weeks.
Click to expand...

I'm not sure about X-rays but laboratory staff are not allowed to give out any results to patients with the exception of pregnancy tests. The penalty for doing so was and probably still is the loss of your license to practice. So saying there is no reason why

1) the radiographer could have got a doctor to give you the results
or
2) your mothers results couldn't have been phoned to the GP on the same day.
 
Aad,

One solution now you know is to phone the surgery for your results several days after the tests have been taken.
Click to expand...

Once again, I agree with you. They have also thought about people like us trying to beat their idiotic and lifethreatening system. When one rings the surgery you are automatically given a short recorded message before the receptionist answers. The message states that we do not need to ring Test Results as the surgery will contact you. They are careful not to say that it will take between 4 to 6 weeks and that is only if the GP's workload allows.

How can I let these useless prats get away with this.

Of course, I would not listen to it and talk to the receptionist and cause a fuss. That is exactly what I did and followed it up with a complaint to the Local Health Board. Since my last post I did ring them again and still an answerphone. I hope they haven't caught something from my Health Centre!

But as you said it IS very serious and could possibly be life threatening. I am going to use that now in my next round of 'talks' with them.

Pete
 
Aad,

I do have the results now- but that only came from my perseverance etc. The point is that at first I did not know about the 4 to 6 week rule and assumed because I had heard nothing(as per message on phone) that I was in the clear. Can you see the point I am making.

I am complaining to the Local Health Board about their system or lack of system re blood test results.

I can imagine, without being too patronising to old ladies, that an old lady living on her own would take everything on the chin and just wait and wait to find out. I am trying my level best to give the HC manager a kick up the proverbial. She and the gP's are professional and should not act like this.

Pete
 
I stand corrected Pete

was thinking in terms of you getting your results in future rather than attempting to change the system completely for others.

I hope you succeed but suggest you keep a ready supply of painkillers - banging your head against a brick wall is always going to hurt although it's worth it if you can break it down :)
 
Aad,

Yes, you're probably right. It is difficult fighting the system as an individual. I am not getting too stressed up about it but just feel as though they need a kick up then proverbial, so to speak!

take care,

Pete
 
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