If you have been requested to bring a sample to the practice we have very strict time tables as to when this can be done, due to couriers to the testing labratories. The times apply to all samples unless you have explicity been requested to provide an urgent samples outside of the times by a clinician. 

Each practice can only accept samples at the following times: 

Please only provide a sample if you have been requested to do so by a member of our team, all other samples will be disposed off.

Information about collecting a sample can be found on the NHS website here:

The doctor or nurse will tell you approximately how long it will take for test results to come back (some take longer than others). We are sorry that we cannot look for results during the very busy early part of the morning so please phone after 9am or after 3pm on weekdays for your results, when lines are less busy.

Note that the practice has a strict policy regarding confidentiality and data protection and we will only release test results to the person to whom they relate unless that person has given prior permission for the release of this data or they are not capable of understanding the results.

When you take your test you will be told how long it will be before the results are returned to the practice. It is your responsibility to check your results and to make an appointment to discuss them with your doctor if you are advised to do so. If you are registered for online services test results can be viewed online once they have been commented on by a GP.

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.

Please note that if you are referred for further investigations by your hospital consultant/department you will need to contact them for the results. We are only able to give results on tests taken here at the surgery.