You can view your test results after it has been reviewed by a clinician via the NHS app if it is linked to the surgery.

Please telephone after 15:00 for the results of blood tests, X-rays etc.

Most blood tests are available within 48 hours after blood is taken.

Plain X-rays reports are usually available after 72 hours.

Results such as urine, stool or swab cultures are also usually available after 72 hours.

In all cases certain tests may take much longer, for example if the hospital has to send them away for processing.

Tests ordered by hospital clinics are not usually sent to us - if in doubt you should contact the hospital.

Important note

We do not usually contact patients about results: there are just too many coming into the surgery. It is your responsibility to ensure your results are satisfactory.

Blood Test Appointments

These can now be booked on line by clicking on the link - www.mse.nhs.uk/blood-tests

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:

• assess 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 and 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 childs 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 on the NHS Choices website.

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, 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 the NHS Choices website.