Elms Medical Centre - About medical tests and how to get your results

Test Results

Please telephone after 2pm for the results of tests, x-rays etc. To protect the patient’s confidentiality results will only be given by telephone to the actual patient concerned. Please check that your results are back before attending for any follow up appointment.

Blood Tests

blood_tests_4 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 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 on the NHS Choices website.

X-Ray

doctor examining an x-ray 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 a 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.

Noticeboard

There has been a recent increase in cases of measles. If your child has not completed their two MMR vaccinations, please make arrangements for their vaccinations. If you or your child are un-immunised and are due to travel abroad, please contact the Practice Nurse to discuss.

Making Appointments at the Surgery - P lease contact the surgery on 01244 351000 to make both routine and urgent appointments with the GPs and Nurses

GP Care Plus
Extended Opening is available to all patients to book a routine appointment outside of practice opening hours. This service can be found at the 1829 Building at the Countess of Chester Health Park

Appointments are available
Mon - Fri 6.30-8pm
Sat 10am - 12pm

Please call 01244 385422 between 8am-6pm to book an appointment up to 2 weeks in advance

Out of Hours
Please ring 01244 385300. When the surgery is closed care is provided by GP’s and nurses employed by the Western Cheshire Primary Care Trust and your doctor may not be on duty.

Home Visits
If you are too ill to attend surgery then please telephone 01244 351000 before 10-30am. State clearly the name and address of the patient and describe the symptoms. This helps the doctors to decide the urgency of the calls and plan their rounds.

Test Results
Please telephone between 11.30am and 5.00pm for the results of tests, x-rays etc.

Quit Smoking

A free friendly advice and support service is available to help you give up smoking. To get further information about stopping smoking either ask the GP or nurse when you visit them or phone 0800 0435134. Alternatively you can text quit4good to 60777, email quit@quit4good.org or visit www.quit4good.org

Further Information

Patient Participation Group