There have been important changes made to the way that the surgery now collects in Urine Samples for testing. The decision to make these changes was made after analysing some recent research, which showed that the current system is not in keeping with the latest clinical evidence and practice.

In the future, we will now only accept Urine Specimens at reception which:

1.       Have been requested by a GP (we need to know who)

2.       Are accompanied by a completed Urine Sample Form (located at reception) which must be filled in by the patient

If you think that you are suffering from a Water Infection (UTI) please call the surgery as soon as possible and inform them of your symptoms.

The reception will then arrange and appointment here or the other supporting services who provide UTI services locally.

The most common symptoms of a Water Infection (UTI) include:

1.       Pain when passing urine

2.       Increased frequency of urination (going to the toilet more often)

3.       Passing small amounts of urine, but still feeling the need to urinate

4.       Appearance of blood in your urine

5.       Pain below your 'Belly Button' or one sided pain in the mid back region

When the Duty Dr calls, they will discuss your symptoms and treat the condition as appropriate. In most cases, this will be a course of antibiotics (not always necessary) and you may be asked to drop off a urine sample, but not in all cases.

Please DO NOT bring a urine sample to the practice unless you have been asked to by the Doctor.

Thanks for your continued support

We will contact you by telephone, or by letter, only if a result is abnormal and you require treatment or further investigations. You will not be contacted if your result is normal. If you wish to enquire about the results of your tests please telephone at the end of surgery sessions. The administrative staff will give results to you or you may be asked to speak to the nurse or doctor. Adults' results will not be given to anyone other than the patient, except in exceptional circumstances.

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 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.