Slateford Medical Practice - About medical tests and how to get your results

Test Results

All test results are managed by your GP. Results can be accessed over the telephone, please call 0131 322 1930 after 2pm.

Our reception staff are not qualified to comment on results therefore it is your responsibility to check them and make any necessary follow-up appointment with the doctor.

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.

We do not routinely print out copies of results. If you are seeing a consultant at an NHS hospital then they will have access to all your test results.

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.

If your GP has requested that you have an x-ray you should attend one of the centres below. Please be aware that you may need to wait to be seen depending on the number of other patients waiting.

Unless your GP has made an urgent request you should allow at least 24 hours before attending the x-ray department to leave time for the request to arrive.

Nearby X-Ray Centres - Open Monday to Friday

Lauriston Building 8.30am - 4pm (0131 536 2942)

Western General Hospital Main Dept 8am - 5pm (0131 537 2054)

Test Results

Blood Tests

X-Ray

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