Test Results

If your doctor asks you to have a blood test, they will provide the reception team with the necessary clinical details.

Our receptionists will make the appointment for you in one of the phlebotomy clinics at Heathgate surgery in Poringland or Rockland St Mary.

Your doctor may ask for a fasting blood test (usually for cholesterol and or blood sugar levels). If you are asked to fast, we will try and book your appointment as early as possible so that you can fast overnight and have breakfast as soon as possible after the test. You should have nothing to eat for at least 12 hours before a fasting blood test. You may drink water or black tea or coffee without sugar.

If you are having a digoxin blood test, you should not take your tablet that morning until after the sample has been taken.

Most blood test results are available a week after the test is taken. You should telephone the surgery for your result by which time the doctor will have reviewed the result and left a comment for you.

If the result is returned from the hospital and there is a need for the doctor to see you urgently, we will telephone or write to you.

Please note that we do have a strict policy regarding confidentiality and data protection. In this respect we will only give out results to the person they relate to unless that person has given prior permission for their release or if they are not capable of understanding them.