We have a system for reviewing results and leaving instructions as to whether an appointment is needed. Please always ring the surgery on 01902 883346 after 11:00am to ask for test results. It may not be necessary to have an appointment with the doctor for results.

If tests are arranged by hospital doctors, the results go to them, not to the surgery. Consultants normally wait until they have told you the results before telling us, so ring their secretary at the hospital if you want them to send it to us first. Please do not book appointments to ask for results as we will not have the information available to us.

A blood test is when a sample of blood is taken for testing in a laboratory. Blood tests have a wide range of uses and are one of the most common types of medical test. For example, a blood test can be used to:

• assess your general state of health
• confirm the presence of a bacterial or viral infection
• see how well certain organs, such as the liver and kidneys, are functioning

A blood test usually involves the phlebotomist taking a blood sample from a blood vessel in your arm and the usual place for a sample is the inside of the elbow or wrist, where the veins are relatively close to the surface. Blood samples from children are most commonly taken from the back of the hand. The childs hand will be anaesthetised (numbed) with a special cream before the sample is taken.

You can book for a test by calling Ladies walk on 01902 575957,  Guest Hospital on 01384 244330, Merry Hill 01384 365155 or online at https://www.dgft.nhs.uk/patients-visitors/blood-tests/

You can find out more about blood tests, their purpose and the way they are performed on the NHS Choices website.

An X-ray is a widely used diagnostic test to examine the inside of the body. X-rays are a very effective way of detecting problems with bones, such as fractures. They can also often identify problems with soft tissue, such as pneumonia or breast cancer.

If you have an X-ray, you will be asked to lie on a table or stand against a surface so that the part of your body being X-rayed is between the X-ray tube and the photographic plate.

An X-ray is usually carried out by a radiographer, a healthcare professional who specialises in using imaging technology, such as X-rays and ultrasound scanners.

You can find out more about x-ray tests, how they are performed, their function and the risks by visiting the NHS Choices website.