why can't I have a personal copy of my blood test results???

martco

thought this would be straightforward but seems not...

Went for 2 sets of tests recently in Vincents as generally I'm feeling off and I'm investigating a frustrating hip+knee problem which has stopped me running

Results went to my GP (whom I am losing faith in rapidly as I've made a few attempts to resolve this over last 3 years usually leaving the surgery with a perscription for Difene and pander about my age etc (for god's sake I'm only 43...I had planned to run marathons into my 70's?!?) ......I like the man have known him for 20 years odd but he's very old school GP....like he never really examines me in any major depth just looks me over more or less and I'm not convinced he's in touch with modern science to be frank.

Anyways I rang him to get these test results, he muttered along thru what had been sent out to him and stopped to ask me "do I drink a lot?" which I said absolutely no to as I'm a rare if anything at all social drinker...he said that I have some high-ish counters on the liver but that if I wasn't on the beer not to worry too much about it...and that was it!? BUT I'd rather know more really! What counters? what mean they? and do they have any links to whats going on with my body?...really unsatisfactory analysis....without getting into the nano details the results DO seem to make a lot of sense to me from my basic biology knowledge but not wanting to take any initial idiot google based conclusions I thought to myself - hey, I can goto Vincents and get the printouts take some personal responsibility and research this / refer to an expert who can guide me to the answer! yes? NO it seems. Girl on phone refuses to give me a copy even if I call personally an bring passport etc. Says they only ever give them to GP's...said that sure if people were let have the results directly they might come to incorrect conclusions. What's the story here? I'm an adult, its my blood and my test and I'm aware of the dangers of self-diagnosis via Doctor Google etc...I've no intention of that, I just want to get some data about myself, educate myself and employ an expert to help me get back to fitness.

Have I no rights here? or am I going about this the wrong way?

Zamboni

Did you ask your doctor for a copy of the results?

OneIdea

I'm no Doc etc... but I just felt I had to comment on your age theory, I had my left hip replaced a year ago at age 41, cause was never really pinned down but it was avascular necrosis and I'm not that much of a drinker either, 3 to 4 times a month if I'm lucky. The main reason I had to get the replacement was I left it for years putting up with the pain. My right hip was saved though another procedure.

For someone as fit as yourself, hopefully the above is not whats wrong with you... was your sciatic nerve mentioned at all?

Back on topic:

You could always go private, I think its around 100euro for a test.

looksee

You should be able to get your blood results, try ringing the surgery and asking if they can have a copy of your blood results printed off and you will call in to pick them up. Sound as though you know what you are doing, ask as though there is no issue about this. 'I was in with Dr X the other day and I just realised I never picked up the copy of my my bloods results. Can I call in and pick up a copy tomorrow evening (or whatever)

Dinkie

Its against laboratory procedure to give them out. Its in case you mis-diagnose your self or incase there is an erroneous result. The doctor would pick up an erroneous result be looking at all the results and your case history.

Both situations would make the lab liable - and at risk of getting sued. In this day and age that is a real risk.

Your doctor should be able to give you a copy.

I work in the area btw.

discus

You've got the wrong end of the stick Dinkie, the OP is looking fora copy of the results off the doctor.

tattykitty

As the other posters have said, your doctor should give you the results if you ask him. I recently had mine emailed out to me by the doctor upon request.

Librium

get a new gp for the craic

riveratom

Unless you're going to bring the test results to a new doctor (that's if this current doctor gives them to you if and when you ask), they are useless to you. You won't be able to understand them or derive any conclusions from them, so I would say it's really a case of getting a new doctor who is more interested in providing you with a good service.

opinion guy

AFAIK, I may be out of date, but AFAIK, you can get your results and even medical notes from the hospital under the data protection act. You would need to provide the hospital medical records department with a letter requesting whatever it is you are looking for. There may be a form to fill out. There may also be a processing fee to pay.
And I may be out of date. But a call to the medical reocrds department of the hospital would answer your queries

Inspector Coptoor

I got mine posted out to me by the GP after he had received them from Vincents.

FYI, you don't have to go to gp for bloods, go straight to Vincent's throughvthexpublic system / it's free

martco

thanks for everyone's reply!
as I tried to convey in the original post I'm aware of the risks associated with Dr. Google and self-analysis...not attempting to go there, else I'd probably figure out that I actually died 2 years ago from a rare form of leprocy etc.
I'm just trying to be sensitive to the man as we've known him forever and I didn't want to cause offence to him by asking for the paperwork to go get more detailed opinion so I'm looking to bypass him I suppose (I need something technically deeper really than "you'll be grand" especially now that I know there was a few measurements off norm) and I just HAVE TO sort this knee/hip thing out.....

it was more what the poster "opinion guy" says above I was getting at really - data protection and all that...like I'm not to be trusted with my own data. its my data, no? I mean if I went to Vincent's directly to repeat the tests would they turn me away if I was a walk-in with no GP? Or is that only allowed if you go Private? but surely no matter what it is my data and I own it, no???

Zamboni

martco wrote: »

thanks for everyone's reply!
as I tried to convey in the original post I'm aware of the risks associated with Dr. Google and self-analysis...not attempting to go there, else I'd probably figure out that I actually died 2 years ago from a rare form of leprocy etc.
I'm just trying to be sensitive to the man as we've known him forever and I didn't want to cause offence to him by asking for the paperwork to go get more detailed opinion so I'm looking to bypass him I suppose (I need something technically deeper really than "you'll be grand" especially now that I know there was a few measurements off norm) and I just HAVE TO sort this knee/hip thing out.....

it was more what the poster "opinion guy" says above I was getting at really - data protection and all that...like I'm not to be trusted with my own data. its my data, no? I mean if I went to Vincent's directly to repeat the tests would they turn me away if I was a walk-in with no GP? Or is that only allowed if you go Private? but surely no matter what it is my data and I own it, no???

Both are legally obliged to provide you with the data if you request if correctly. Personally I think the GP would be the quicker route.
I understand the GP history etc but you've got to tell him you want a copy. He is not your friend, he is a professional who probably charges you €40-€60 to say hello.

opinion guy

Zamboni wrote: »

Both are legally obliged to provide you with the data if you request if correctly. Personally I think the GP would be the quicker route.
I understand the GP history etc but you've got to tell him you want a copy. He is not your friend, he is a professional who probably charges you €40-€60 to say hello.

Yeah this. I'm sure people ask him all the time for copies of their bloods - just ask him - you don't have to say why.

Squiggle

Medical records and data Protection.