Many patients may not be aware that practices are not funded to undertake a number of diagnostic tests.
To best manage ongoing access into general practice and ensure that patients receive the right care at the right time, we are delighted to introduce our new Community Investigation Hub situated at Martock Surgery.
The Community Investigation Hub is funded to take diagnostic testing and if a patient needs an investigation covered by the hub, then they will be booked an appointment at Martock Surgery as these will no longer be completed within the practice.
This increased access to diagnostics for our patients will support our clinicians to diagnose and tailor your treatment more efficiently and rapidly.
From Monday 3rd February, if you need any of the following procedures our friendly team at the Community Investigation Hub will now be providing this at our Martock Surgery:
- Secondary care bloods – this is because you either need an operation, or are under the care of a consultant team and they need you to have your bloods taken or monitored before attending. If you have been given forms for these blood tests it is essential that you bring them with you to your appointment.
- Non-urgent ECG’s (Electrocardiogram)– this may be required for medication monitoring or monitoring of a known well-managed condition.
- Feno (Fractional Exhaled nitric oxide) – this is a diagnostic tool to assess for asthma
- Spirometry – this is a simple test used to help diagnose and monitor certain lung conditions by measuring how much air you can breathe out in one forced breath.
Your practice team, or hospital consultant will determine if you require these investigations, and you will be offered an appointment to suit you at Martock Surgery within the Community Investigation Hub.
The results from these tests will go back to your registered GP practice, or your consultant team if relating to secondary care blood tests, whereby your consultant team will follow up with you on the results.
It is important you read any information that is sent to you ahead of your appointment at the Community Investigation Hub, for us to ensure the most accurate and reliable test results.