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[Rabbit1977]

Your entitled to see your blood test results under the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and the Data Protection Act 2018, the only exception to this is if the doctor believes it would cause serious physical or mental harm to the patient. It's causing me more not to be able to see the results. You're also able to make a SAR to obtain anything held on your medical records, however, this ties people up with weeks upon weeks of paperwork which is not helpful for a NHS already going under.

The surgery had no problem with issuing me with pages of my previous blood test results at the start of this year.

I asked the colorectal surgeon if I could have some of the iron tablets previously issued to me back in 2016 when I last had anaemia and he said that the GP would have to prescribe them. The same GP who hasn't mentioned anaemia, even when he phoned me following the mid-August blood test. I have no confidence in him at the moment because of this. Back in 2016 and the prior years nobody mentioned me having anaemia, until my ferritin level hit 8 and I felt like I was seriously ill. It shouldn't come to this, surely.

I will be telling the doctor about the OTC iron and also explaining why, my lack of confidence given this was only mentioned again by the surgeon and the fact that I have had to request these blood tests as opposed to the doctor suggesting they need to be done (my doctors are funny - you phone the receptionist and say you'd like your cholesterol, for example, checked and they go away ask the doctor and then you get a text message to say the doctor has agreed or declined). My total cholesterol had dropped from 5.33 in Dec 2023 to 4.5 in Feb 2025 and I was told by the wellbeing clinician to 'keep doing whatever you are doing' as it was coming down. I have changed my diet a bit since though, so wanted to check that it hadn't adversely affected my cholesterol.

I will keep you posted.

[CLKD]

When will medics being listening to patients  , they cannot blame 'restrictions' on time with each person as the GPs could make a double appt..  Fortunately I have never felt rushed when seeing our GP or Nurses ...... and thus far the on-line triage form works well. 

I don't agree with patients having access to medical records .......... of course I would expect to be seen when the results were back to discuss with the GP at which time I could address any worries.  Also our receptionists don't go away 'to ask' as the triage system is seen by a GP and 2 nurses and advice given: either over the phone or a Face2face appt. within 2 weeks unless urgent.

I think that your cholesterol may well be 'within normal limits' though the levels were dropped a few years ago.  DH tried the diet way, I opted immediately for medication.  I get an annual blood test to check liver function, he doesn't  .  So there's no consistency there either.

Personally I believe that because records are now held on computer, it is easy for medics not to think 2 scroll through as they would have with paper reports.  To check any relevant history.  Let us know how you get on! 

[Minusminnie]

Your entitled to see your blood test results under the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and the Data Protection Act 2018, the only exception to this is if the doctor believes it would cause serious physical or mental harm to the patient. It's causing me more not to be able to see the results. You're also able to make a SAR to obtain anything held on your medical records, however, this ties people up with weeks upon weeks of paperwork which is not helpful for a NHS already going under.

The surgery had no problem with issuing me with pages of my previous blood test results at the start of this year.

I asked the colorectal surgeon if I could have some of the iron tablets previously issued to me back in 2016 when I last had anaemia and he said that the GP would have to prescribe them. The same GP who hasn't mentioned anaemia, even when he phoned me following the mid-August blood test. I have no confidence in him at the moment because of this. Back in 2016 and the prior years nobody mentioned me having anaemia, until my ferritin level hit 8 and I felt like I was seriously ill. It shouldn't come to this, surely.

I will be telling the doctor about the OTC iron and also explaining why, my lack of confidence given this was only mentioned again by the surgeon and the fact that I have had to request these blood tests as opposed to the doctor suggesting they need to be done (my doctors are funny - you phone the receptionist and say you'd like your cholesterol, for example, checked and they go away ask the doctor and then you get a text message to say the doctor has agreed or declined). My total cholesterol had dropped from 5.33 in Dec 2023 to 4.5 in Feb 2025 and I was told by the wellbeing clinician to 'keep doing whatever you are doing' as it was coming down. I have changed my diet a bit since though, so wanted to check that it hadn't adversely affected my cholesterol.

I will keep you posted.

Having had a colonoscopy & seen a colorectal surgeon have you been offered a hospital App.

I sign up to the our hospital care app after my recent hysteroscopy. All test results and letters are now coming through on it. Even a letter I never saw from a gynaecologist seen over a year ago. He’d reassured me verbally anyway.

A recent 3month blood test done at my surgery for checking initial statin use came through the other day too.
Shows levels of what the test was for.

I’m not one for using Apps but am pleased with this one as it cuts out asking the GP for results.

[Rabbit1977]

Following the clear colonoscopy, I was then referred for a capsule endoscopy which I have had but am waiting on results for (it takes a long time to stitch the photos together and then for a consultant to review them....that's a lot footage!).

CLKD - I also think the online system makes it easier for things to be missed in scrolling, I wonder if they could not introduce a traffic light system banding on their communications (red flag next to title = needs to be looked at urgently, orange = needs a conversation non-urgently, green = fine)? It troubles me that when speaking to the doctors (and I did this last week), they can't seem to see/locate what the hospital said in mid-September on my file.

I guess we will see what happens next Tuesday and until then I will try and keep on top of my anxiety. Thanks all for your help, I shall keep you posted.

[Kathleen]

Hello ladies.

Rabbit - I am sorry that you are in this position and I sympathise as I have recently had fun and games with my GP surgery regarding low iron.

I have six monthly blood tests due to a diagnosis of Ulcerative Colitis (  which thankfully is in remission) and my results are available online with the MyChart App. It was here that I noticed that although my Ferritin was considered within the normal range it was now low enough to be classified as iron deficiency. I looked back at previous Ferritin results and noted that they had been falling for the past two years. I  messaged my surgery via the App AskMyGp and someone called Jake replied ( no indication of who he is or what his role is at the surgery) saying that a prescription for three months worth of Ferrous Fumarate would be ready for me to collect from Boots later that day. If I hadn't queried my blood test results I suppose I would continue to be experiencing falling Ferritin levels until they eventually fell below 10 ug/L which is the lowest number in the normal range. Presumably this would have come to light at my next scheduled blood test in March of next year. I feel pretty rubbish atm and I dread to think how much worse I would be feeling by then.

I have decided to keep a much closer eye on my blood test results from now on and I am even considering having some tests done privately in the future. I understand that some pharmacies offer testing and I would think about asking for things like B12,and Vit D as well as Ferritin.

I am sorry that I can't be more helpful and I hope you get this resolved soon.

Wishing you well and sending hugs.

K.

[Katejo]

I was told from an early age the if I felt 2 ill to go 2 school I wouldn't be allowed to 'go out' that evening.  When I was anxious I was told that 'once U have said 'yes' 2 something, U will be letting people down if you cancel'  .

So there's a certain amount of old habits internally, anxiety = panic which means that I can't do what is planned.  Spontaneously is better, mostly.

And what if I am ill    .......... it would ruin everything!

My parents had exactly the same rule about going out in the evening if we had been off school! No cubs, brownies etc..
I still can't drop that rule myself. I was at a social event recently when one person there said she had been off work sick but had felt ok to come to the evening event. I was quite shocked. I always felt it was my 'duty' to rest and be ok for work the next day.

[Summer-sky]

I do have cancer and whilst not anxious about dying, I am terrified of leaving my young adult children, partner and parents. I should see a cancer psych psychiatrist really, but I’m
WAY too angry to even do anything about it.

Yeah, that’s what my anxiety revolves around.

Nas, that is a very tough and terrifying thing to face, let alone the treatment path you have to go down and all that brings.  xx

[Jules]

I do have cancer and whilst not anxious about dying, I am terrified of leaving my young adult children, partner and parents. I should see a cancer psych psychiatrist really, but I’m
WAY too angry to even do anything about it.

Yeah, that’s what my anxiety revolves around.

Nas, that is a very tough and terrifying thing to face, let alone the treatment path you have to go down and all that brings.  xx

I was going to say the same. I've just spent nine months supporting a friend with cancer and heard her anxiety. I tried my very best but I could no more put myself in her shoes than I can imagine yours. I hope you're getting better support and service from the NHS than she did.
Regarding blood test results, I can view mine on the NHS app. They're fairly clearly listed as normal, satisfactory etc and the normal parameters are there too. My GP surgery prints them off if I ask.
Regarding anxiety, mine too is mainly health related. Mine, my kids or grandkids but lately looking forwards too much and wondering what's in store. Ever since my husband left, I've woken with that sinking feeling in my stomach. I think it's become an automatic response now.

[Rabbit1977]

So, my doctor phoned about the blood test results that I was not allowed to have until a doctor had spoken to me about them and..........there was a lab error meaning that the iron levels they were supposed to be testing for did not get tested. So I have to have a repeat blood test done.

And the receptionist couldn't have just told me that the week before rather than leaving me to worry?

Interestingly though, whilst going through the printed report of my blood tests, it shows I have CKD stage 2 which I have never been told about.

[getting_old]

So, my doctor phoned about the blood test results that I was not allowed to have until a doctor had spoken to me about them and..........there was a lab error meaning that the iron levels they were supposed to be testing for did not get tested. So I have to have a repeat blood test done.

And the receptionist couldn't have just told me that the week before rather than leaving me to worry?

Interestingly though, whilst going through the printed report of my blood tests, it shows I have CKD stage 2 which I have never been told about.

The receptionist wouldn't see your results or be told any information relating to them.