Tests

Test Results



Test results are visible to you on the NHS app.

Test results will only be given in person or via phone to patients themselves or to the parents of minors.



It is your responsibility to check or call for your test results.


Please allow 7 days for blood, urine and non-genital swab test results

Please allow upto 2 weeks for genital swab results and X-Ray results

Please allow upto 6-8 weeks for CT and MRI scan results


Results of tests organised by the hospital will go to the requesting clinician in hospital. The specialist is responsible for acting upon the results of any test they request and for informing you of the results.

If you haven’t heard from the specialist about a test result please ring their secretary at the hospital. Unfortunately your surgery may not know the result and will not know what the specialist intended to do with the information.




Confidentiality


All patients’ medical records, be they on file or in the computer are confidential and kept secure. Safeguards are in place under GDPR.

All staff have access to personal information in order to provide for you healthcare and are regularly trained and kept up to date with confidentiality and information security.


Sometimes it is necessary to share information with other organisations in order to provide the best care and so that we can all work together for your benefit. Such organisations could be private hospitals, ambulance services, other GP’s, NHS Primary Care trust, Hospital Trusts or Strategic Health Authorities.


We may have to disclose personal information by law; a new birth, infectious diseases e.g. meningitis or where a formal court order has been issued.



Other Services


Blood Tests and ECGs:


Blood tests and ECGs are carried out by the practice phlebotomist at the surgery by appointment only.

Your doctor or nurse will need to have referred you or you may be contacted by the practice for a monitoring test.


Wound Care:


Simple wound Assessment and Management

Removal of stitches

At Barbara Castle Way or Darwen Health Centre

Appointment made by calling 01254 961018 and selecting option 1


More complex wound care

At Darwen Health Centre

Appointment made by calling 01254 732436

Referrals

Referral to see a specialist
 
The following leaflet provides guidance on what to expect when you are referred by your GP to see a Specialist (or therapist). Please read this information carefully— it may save you an unnecessary trip to the surgery by talking this process through with your specialist. 
(With thanks to Kent LMC.)
Click here for the leaflet

Choose and Book

Choose and Book is a national electronic referral service which gives patients a choice of place, date and time for their hospital outpatient appointment. Choose and Book allows you to decide on where you would like your care provided by giving you a set of options to choose which clinic or hospital you wish to attend as well as a choice of dates and times for your appointment.

Your GP will arrange for a referral letter to be done and details will be provided to you to enable you to make your own booking via information provided to you on an appointment request letter which lists your unique booking reference number, your NHS number and a list of hospital or clinic options for you to choose from (sometimes this may be several choices but occasionally there may only be one choice). The letter will also show your unique password. This password will remain the same throughout your time using the Choose and Book system, as it is unique to you as an individual.

If you know where and when you would like to be seen and require assistance with booking we can provide you with a range of times/days for you to choose from and can book the appointment for you. You will be given confirmation of your booked appointment information.

For more information on C&B look at their website www.chooseandbook.nhs.uk/patients.

If you have any questions on the Choose and Book system please speak to a member of our Reception Teams who will be happy to explain how the system works.