did anyone see holby this week when the doc got a scan and results in one afternoon !! wish it was the same for all us lesser mortals !lynn x
Hi aroma
It’s quite normal in some other countries - in France, for example,if you have a mammogram, you are given the results yourself straightaway (which can be rather disconcerting) - and you keep them and then take them to your doctor if necessary. The same goes for ultrasound and very often CT scans. Blood test results are sent to your home address within 48 hours.
I think the reasons for the delays on the NHS are cost, making you wait a bit slows the throughput and makes the money go a bit further! The other reason is all the admin associated with it, letters here, there and everywhere. In France you keep your own test results, which speeds things up a great deal.
S
T
I think it depends on who does your scan. When my son had cancer, he always had his CT scans done by the consultant radiologist who would give me a blow by blow running commentary as the scanner went over him. I was always present in the scan room wearing a lead lined bib and the consultant used to speak to me via the microphone. That was not nice either because he would say things like “oh yes, I can now see a mass in the abdomen. May be tumour, may be kinked bowel. Oh yes, its only bowel” and they would then pick me off the floor! They seemed to forget I was his mother, not another medic, but at least we got the results there and then.
Yes, I prefer the quick way, too Cathy - I once waited 6 weeks for an NHS mammogram result a few years ago -not good enough, I thought.
S
our local hospitals and GP surgeries are now all linked electronically so although not guaranteed to get a result same day the admin side has been reduced as they do not have to wait for letters to be sent out etc … I had a bone scan on the Tuesday and got results via GP on the Thursday.
When I was diag (Cumberland Infirmary, Carlisle), I had a 3 hour appointment (told this in advance). Had mamo, ultra sound scan, physical exam, 2 types of biopsy things. Was actually told after second test (scan) that it didn’t look good, by senior radiologist. And consultant new from scan, mamo and feeling it that it was before he did the biopsies.
I was then sent away for an hour while tests were done on 1 biopsy (the other was sent to another hosp for further tests). So I actually new after about 1 hour which is excellent.
I know from looking on here that that is not always the case.
Irene
Hi everyone,
My story is the same as Irene’s.I had my results back in 20 minutes when I was diagnosed at Linda Mc.
With follow up scans though,you do have to wait a few days.
Alli x
My son is going in for a scan on Monday. In with the appointment letter there was a note saying that results will take about 2 weeks. I emailed his consultant and 10 minutes later, her secretary rang me to say that the consultant will see us straight afterwards with the results. How’s that for service. All NHS - paediatrics may be different, but it obviously can be done.
It’s watching Holby and Casualty too often which has made me terrified of my op I’m sure!!!