CT scan result wait time
Discussion
I had a CT scan through the NHS almost 3 months ago and still don’t know what the outcome is. My GP referred me to the local hospital and a consultant there ordered the scan. I chased up with the hospital last week and the consultant’s secretary said she would call me back with an update which she didn’t. So I rang again today and was told that she’d only be informed of the results if something abnormal was found and that the consultant had already seen the images but had asked for a printed copy of the report. Is this standard protocol? I can understand that it’s likely (hopefully) not to be anything serious but still would like to know rather than be kept waiting.
Edited by JS1902 on Tuesday 28th January 00:15
It's normal, in my experience, to be contacted only when a scan, test or whatever has given a reason for further action. It makes sense, otherwise hospital and GP staff would be making a great many 'Everything's normal' calls every day.
ETA: You can arrange with your GP surgery to see your health record on line which should indicate the scan outcome.
ETA: You can arrange with your GP surgery to see your health record on line which should indicate the scan outcome.
Edited by Riley Blue on Tuesday 28th January 08:42
I had a right run around on Friday last week chaing an MRI result and was getting nowhere with the Consultant's secretary (turns out she's off sick an no-one covers secretaries work when they're not there - we've had this happen before).
Switchboard put me through to "MRI Results" - who knew there was such a department? Of course, she couldn't give me the result and referred me to the Consultant's secretary I said she's not answering so she said leve it with her and she'd sort it out. I wasn't confident but she rang bag and said a doctor would call and sure enough they did.
Switchboard put me through to "MRI Results" - who knew there was such a department? Of course, she couldn't give me the result and referred me to the Consultant's secretary I said she's not answering so she said leve it with her and she'd sort it out. I wasn't confident but she rang bag and said a doctor would call and sure enough they did.
Riley Blue said:
It's normal, in my experience, to be contacted only when a scan, test or whatever has given a reason for further action. It makes sense, otherwise hospital and GP staff would be making a great many 'Everything's normal' calls every day.
ETA: You can arrange with your GP surgery to see your health record on line which should indicate the scan outcome.
Are you sure about that because my surgery explicitly says that they don't have the results of hospital tests. Mine don't even hold the results of regular checkups which are performed by outsourced organisations like Health Harmonie. ETA: You can arrange with your GP surgery to see your health record on line which should indicate the scan outcome.
Mr Pointy said:
Riley Blue said:
It's normal, in my experience, to be contacted only when a scan, test or whatever has given a reason for further action. It makes sense, otherwise hospital and GP staff would be making a great many 'Everything's normal' calls every day.
ETA: You can arrange with your GP surgery to see your health record on line which should indicate the scan outcome.
Are you sure about that because my surgery explicitly says that they don't have the results of hospital tests. Mine don't even hold the results of regular checkups which are performed by outsourced organisations like Health Harmonie. ETA: You can arrange with your GP surgery to see your health record on line which should indicate the scan outcome.
Our surgery adds hospital consultants' letters, detailed blood test results and ECG traces to our on-line records. They may not appear instantly (I've just checked, they're a bit behind with adding a neurology consultant's letter to my O/H at the moment) but as she's received her copy that's not an issue but my record shows a letter from my practice dated 22/01/24.
Riley Blue said:
Mr Pointy said:
Riley Blue said:
It's normal, in my experience, to be contacted only when a scan, test or whatever has given a reason for further action. It makes sense, otherwise hospital and GP staff would be making a great many 'Everything's normal' calls every day.
ETA: You can arrange with your GP surgery to see your health record on line which should indicate the scan outcome.
Are you sure about that because my surgery explicitly says that they don't have the results of hospital tests. Mine don't even hold the results of regular checkups which are performed by outsourced organisations like Health Harmonie. ETA: You can arrange with your GP surgery to see your health record on line which should indicate the scan outcome.
Our surgery adds hospital consultants' letters, detailed blood test results and ECG traces to our on-line records. They may not appear instantly (I've just checked, they're a bit behind with adding a neurology consultant's letter to my O/H at the moment) but as she's received her copy that's not an issue but my record shows a letter from my practice dated 22/01/24.
Mr Pointy said:
I can guarantee my practice doesn't - I have tests performed every six months & the results are not in my records. I have to get them sent to me so I have an ongoing record of any changes.
They seem to get sent from the various places wife & I go to, and as of around a year ago, they appear in the NHS app, I think due to our GP practice uploading them.I waited about 4 months a few years back for the results of an MRI. I don't know where the blockage is, whether it's the radiographer writing the results to the consultant or the time for the consultant to write up his letter to you/GP.
I did broach these delays with my GP given I have one every year for surveillance, the response was if there was an 'issue' you'd be told a lot sooner.
I did broach these delays with my GP given I have one every year for surveillance, the response was if there was an 'issue' you'd be told a lot sooner.
Contact PALS and ask them how to request copy images and reports. You are legally entitled to these. It can take a month to get them but that seems fast compared with what has happened so far. Of course you then need a medically qualified advisor to tell you what it means, but at least you have the information.
motco said:
Contact PALS and ask them how to request copy images and reports. You are legally entitled to these. It can take a month to get them but that seems fast compared with what has happened so far. Of course you then need a medically qualified advisor to tell you what it means, but at least you have the information.
100% this. The result may not be something that is immediately understandable.
What if the test is 95% sensitive and 92% specific? Do you know what this means.
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