Your doctor will usually advise whether you should make a further appointment for test results or whether it is appropriate to phone for the result.

Most blood tests are available after about 3 days but some of the more unusual ones take longer.

X-rays have to be carefully interpreted by a radiologist (a doctor who specialises in X-rays) and the results take about a week to come through.

If phoning for results please do so between 14:00 and 16:00 when the receptionist should be able to help you.

The majority of test results can be given out by our receptionists as our doctors will update your records with as much information as possible when processing results, especially if something is slightly borderline or abnormal.

Patients should note that if the doctors are happy for receptionists to tell you your test results this indicates that there is nothing serious to worry about.

If a clinician is concerned about a test result they will ring the patient themselves or get reception to book a follow up face-to-face appointment.

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.