Test Results

Non-urgent advice: Results of Tests and Investigations

Test results and investigations are available Monday to Friday after 14:00. Your doctor will leave a message for you.

We can only give results to the patient concerned. So please do not ask someone else to do this on your behalf. Please allow up to five working days for results.

You can usually see test results via online services:

Cervical Smear results are sent to your home address and can take up to 6-8 weeks.

Non-urgent advice: Blood Tests

A blood test is when a sample of blood took 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 may be 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. This is from a blood vessel in your arm and the usual place for a sample is the inside of the elbow or wrist. This is because the veins are usually close to the surface. Blood samples from children are usually taken from the back of the hand. The child's hand will numbed with a special cream before the sample is

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

Non-urgent advice: X-Rays

An X-ray is a 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. This can include pneumonia or breast cancer.

If you have an X-ray, you will be asked to lie on a table or stand against a surface. This is 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. This is a healthcare professional who specialises in using imaging technology. (X-rays and ultrasound scanners).

You can find out more about x-rays by visiting the NHS Choices website.