What happens if I need a medical test?

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What happens if I need a medical test?

Your clinician might recommend you to have a medical test to:

  • Find out what’s causing your symptoms
  • Screen for a specific condition or health problem 
  • Check your general health
  • Monitor a long-term condition or certain medications 

The process will be different depending on the type of test, but you’ll usually need to visit one of our clinics.

Your test results will be sent back to us and reviewed by one of our clinicians, usually within 1-2 weeks, but it can take longer.

The clinician or hospital who arranges your test will tell you whether there are any specific instructions you need to follow before your test.

Preparing for a test

It’s important to follow the instructions you’re given, as it may affect the result of the test and mean it needs to be delayed or carried out again.

Testing in clinic

Types of tests available at our clinics:

  • blood tests
  • toenail clippings – collect to do at home
  • stool (poo) – collect to do at home 
  • urine and wound swabs
  • Cervical Screening (smear test) and vaginal swabs

Blood tests

If needed, your clinician will send you an invitation to book a blood test at one of our clinics.

Most blood tests only take a few minutes to complete and will be carried out by one of our phlebotomy trained colleagues.

All other tests

Your clinician may refer you to collect a test kit from one of our clinics to investigate your symptoms further. In most cases, you won’t need an appointment and can collect your test kit from reception.

All our clinics have private facilities on site for you to collect a sample.

If you’d prefer, you can also take your test kit home and drop it back to the clinic before 4:00pm, Monday to Friday* (excluding Bank Holidays).

*Please, note that we do not accept the drop off of samples at our Raynes Park (Wimbledon) clinic.

We don’t have the facility to store samples in the clinics after 4:00pm. If you collect the sample after this time, please drop it off as soon as possible the next morning (samples dropped off after 4:00pm will be discarded).

You can also drop it off at one of the hospital drop off locations shown below.

Hospital drop off locations in London

You can drop your sample to any of our clinics or to one of these hospitals:

  • Charing Cross Hospital, Fulham Palace Road, W6 8RF
  • Hammersmith Hospital, Du Cane Road, W12 0HS
  • St. Mary’s Hospital, Praed Street, W2 1NY

At the hospital, you should ask for directions to the pathology sample reception.

Testing at a hospital

Most tests can be done at one of our clinics. However, a clinician might refer you to a hospital or specialist for some types of tests. For example, scans and X-rays.

You’ll usually need an appointment for these types of tests. Depending on where you have been referred for the test will depend on how you will be contacted to arrange the appointment. Your Clinician will explain more.

Requesting X-rays and images 

In order to obtain copies of your X-rays or other images, you will need to contact the relevant hospital directly. GP at Hand cannot do this on your behalf.