Test Results

Your doctor or nurse will discuss with you how you can obtain your results. Sometimes you will only be contacted if there is a problem or if there is something that you should know about.

If you are asked to contact the surgery for your result, please call during the afternoon when it is less busy (and preferably at a time when your doctor is available, in case you need to speak to them).

Please note that we do have a strict policy regarding confidentiality and data protection. In this respect we will only give out results to the person they relate to unless that person has given prior permission for their release or if they are not capable of understanding them.

Blood Tests

The majority of patients are asked to attend Phlebotomy Clinics at the surgery to have blood taken. If a patient is housebound, or too unwell to attend the surgery, then it can be arranged for a community nurse to take blood in the home.

Appointments for blood tests at the surgery can be book over the phone or online.

A blood test is when a sample of blood is taken for testing in a laboratory. Blood tests have a wide range of uses and are one of the most common types of medical test. For example, a blood test can be used to:

  • your general state of health
  • confirm the presence of a bacterial or viral infection
  • see how well certain organs, such as the liver and kidneys, are functioning

A blood test usually involves the phlebotomist taking a blood sample from a blood vessel in your arm. The usual place for a sample is the inside of the elbow or wrist, where the veins are relatively close to the surface. Blood samples from children are most commonly taken from the back of the hand. The child’s hand will be anaesthetised (numbed) with a special cream before the sample is taken.

You can find out more about blood tests, their purpose and the way they are performed at NHS: Blood Tests.

X-Ray

If your doctor or nurse thinks that you need an X-ray, you will be given an X-ray request form. Most X-rays are carried out in Cirencester Hospital by appointment only. The telephone number to make the appointment is 0300 422 3277.

An X-ray is a widely used diagnostic test to examine the inside of the body. X-rays are a very effective way of detecting problems with bones, such as fractures. They can also often identify problems with soft tissue, such as pneumonia or breast cancer.

If you have an X-ray, you will be asked to lie on a table or stand against a surface so that the part of your body being X-rayed is between the X-ray tube and the photographic plate.

An X-ray is usually carried out by a radiographer or a healthcare professional who specialises in using imaging technology, such as X-rays and ultrasound scanners.

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