Your Test Results

Please ensure the specimen is clearly labelled with your full name, date of birth, and the date the sample was taken.

Getting your test results

If your test results indicate that you need further tests or treatment, we will contact you directly. 

Once a doctor has reviewed your results, you can access them in the following ways:

Please note

  • Test results are usually available within 7–10 working days, but this can vary depending on the type of test.

  • Test results go directly to the clinician or service that requested them. It is their responsibility to interpret the results and inform you of the outcome.

  • If your test or investigation was arranged by a hospital specialist, the results will be sent back to them—not your GP.

  • Some specialist-requested tests, including X-rays, MRI scans, and other hospital-based investigations, may take up to 6 to 8 weeks to return to the surgery.

Questions about your results

If you would like to discuss your results in more detail or need further information beyond what our reception team can provide, the easiest way is to use our GP appointment request form to request a telephone appointment. We’ll then arrange for one of our clinicians to call you.

Setting up an NHS account

To set up your NHS account for the first time, you will need to set up an NHS login. Read about how to set up NHS login (nhs.uk).

Once you have set up your NHS login, you can log in to your NHS account or download the NHS App onto your phone.

Types of tests

Blood test

A blood test is often done to check your health, or to find out why you're having certain symptoms. It involves having a small amount of your blood taken for testing.

There are lots of reasons why you may need a blood test.

A blood test may be done to:

  • check your general health
  • find out if symptoms you're having are caused by certain conditions
  • find out if you're more likely to get a condition
  • find out how well a condition is being treated or managed

You can find out more about blood tests, their purpose and the way they are performed on the NHS website.

ECG

You'll usually have an ECG (electrocardiogram) if a doctor or healthcare professional thinks you're having symptoms of:

  • a heart attack
  • coronary heart disease
  • problems with how quickly or regularly your heart beats (arrhythmia)

You also may have an ECG:

  • if you've been diagnosed with a heart condition or another condition that affects how well your heart works
  • before and while taking certain medicines

The type of ECG you have will depend on your symptoms or condition. The doctor or specialist will explain which you will have and why.

Ultrasound scan

An ultrasound scan is used to see images of the inside of your body, such as muscles, organs, or a baby in your womb. It's usually done in hospitals or clinics.

Why an ultrasound scan is done

You might be referred for an ultrasound scan to:

  • investigate symptoms you've had, such as pain or a lump
  • monitor a condition, such as a problem with your thyroid
  • help a health professional see inside your body during a procedure, such as injecting a steroid into a joint
  • check your baby's development during your pregnancy

Find out more about ultrasound scans in pregnancy

Getting your ultrasound scan results

You may get the results of your ultrasound scan at the end of your appointment, or it can take a few weeks, depending on why you had the scan.

Your result will be sent to the doctor who referred you for the ultrasound scan. You might need a follow-up appointment with your doctor to discuss your results.

If you have not heard anything after a few weeks, contact the specialist or the surgery about your results and what happens next.

X-ray

An X-ray is a quick and painless procedure commonly used to produce images of the inside of the body.

It's a very effective way of looking at the bones and can be used to help detect a range of conditions.

X-rays are usually carried out in hospital X-ray departments by trained specialists called radiographers, although they can also be done by other healthcare professionals, such as dentists.

You can find out more about x-ray tests, how they are performed, their function and the risks by visiting the NHS website.

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