Consultation + Bloods What do I need to Know?

Blood Tests –

1. To have a blood test, you must initially attend the GP for consultation. The GPs at Bedford Medical Centre do not recommend regular blood testing except as part of monitoring of a disease or treatment. It has been scientifically proven that regular blood tests- such as an annual check-up do not prevent disease. This may seem odd and counter-intuitive but it is a reflection of how complex the causation of disease is and how variable humans are in their susceptibility to disease. The habit of annual blood tests is a wasteful and unnecessary. It has been promoted by private testing clinics and has become fashionable but has no basis in science or good practice. We are happy to advise what tests, if any, might help you given what we know already about your health status, risk profile and medical needs.
2. Your GP may decide that blood tests would be helpful in forming a diagnosis, or to help get more information about your condition.
3. It is vital that you let your GP know if there is something in particular you wish to be tested for and why. Please mention this early in the consultation, not at the end.
4. Don’t assume blood tests ‘look for everything’, as they don’t. (For example, there is no blood test for ‘cancer’). There are thousands of tests that can be done through blood samples and each needs to be ordered specifically.
5. Your GP is responsible for choosing the correct test for your specific complaint.
6. Your GP must also be vigilant in selecting only tests that may be particularly helpful with your specific combination of symptoms and clinical findings.
7. The laboratory (run by the HSE, not us) may not process inappropriate blood tests as they are correctly deemed a waste of valuable resources.
8. We are open to discussion about what you have found in your own online searches but the final decision about which blood tests to order rests with your GP. Many tests, especially cancer ‘tumour markers’ and vitamin studies are pointless.
9. We try to avoid bringing you back unnecessarily for repeat tests for minor abnormalities, yet we are responsible if your blood results show the start of a more significant disease process that we should have acted on.
10. The lab will send us a printout of your results, but the doctor who ordered the test is ultimately responsible for interpreting abnormal results in the context of an individual patient.
11. The requesting GP reviews your blood tests. Note that tests ordered by an external consultant will be reviewed by that doctor and not by your GP. You should make it clear when having the sample taken how the requesting consultant is to receive the test results from Bedford Medical Centre. We can email, fax or post the results to the consultant or you can collect and bring to your clinic visit. Charges will apply for taking blood and other samples and for handing results.
12. You can decide how results will be discussed at the time of giving the sample. In some cases the GP or Nurse may text you the results, or you may agree that only abnormal results will be communicated. Sometimes the GP or Nurse will arrange that you receive a phone call with results or that you have a booked appointment to go over the results. Please ensure that your address and phone numbers, especially your mobile number , are up-to-date and that you have consented to receive results by text message.
13. We can give you a copy of your results if you require it.
14. We will try to avoid bringing you back unnecessarily for repeat tests for minor abnormalities, but we are responsible if your blood results show the start of a more significant disease process that we should have acted on.
15. If we ask you to come back for review it is because your GP has decided that this course of action is best.
16. If you require fasting bloods please fast for 8 hours beforehand and book an early appointment on the day.