Services
Test results, sick and fit notes, and reports, forms and private fees.
Test results
Please remember to check your results once enough time has passed. We will contact you if any follow up is needed, but please do not assume that no news means your result is normal.
How to check: call 01968 675 576 and press option 2. Please phone between 10am and 5pm for general enquiries and results. Reception staff can only give results once a clinician has checked them, and cannot interpret results or give medical advice.
| Type of test | Usual timescale |
|---|---|
| Blood tests | Around 5 to 7 working days |
| Urine tests and swabs | Around 5 to 7 working days |
| Stool samples | Around 7 to 10 working days |
| X-rays and scans | Often 10 working days or longer |
| Specialist tests | May take several weeks |
| Cervical screening results | Posted to you and may take several weeks |
These timescales run from the date the test was taken or received by the laboratory, and are a guide only.
When should I phone for my result?
Choose your test and the date it was taken, and we will work out when your result should be ready.
Use the table above: count working days from the date of your test.
Do not wait for test results if you feel worse or have a new or urgent concern. Contact us as normal, or call NHS 24 on 111 if we are closed. In an emergency, always call 999.
Tests requested by a hospital or another service should be followed up with that service directly, as the practice may not receive those results.
Bringing in a sample
Only bring in a sample if a clinician has requested it. Samples must be in the correct container, available from reception, and clearly labelled with your full name, date of birth, the date the sample was taken, and the reason if known.
Samples go to the laboratory once a day, Monday to Friday.
Hand samples in by 2pm, Monday to Friday, to reach the lab the same day.
Sick and fit notes
Do I need a fit note?
Answer one or two quick questions to see what you need to do.
The guidance below explains when you can self-certify and when you need a fit note.
Off work for 7 days or less
You do not need a fit note from the practice if you have been off sick for 7 calendar days or less. You should self-certify using a self-certification form, which you can get from your employer or download as form SC2 from GOV.UK.
If your employer insists on medical evidence during the first 7 days, this is not covered by NHS fit note arrangements and a private fee applies.
Off work for more than 7 days
If you have been off sick for more than 7 calendar days, you may need a fit note. A fit note can only be issued after an appropriate assessment by a clinician, such as a GP or Advanced Nurse Practitioner. Please do not use urgent or emergency appointments solely to request a fit note. Fit notes can usually be backdated where clinically appropriate, so a routine appointment is normally suitable.
Extending an existing fit note
If your illness continues beyond the period covered by your current fit note, you can request an extension through Patient Services or by phoning the practice — see Request an additional sick note for details. A clinician will review your request and the practice will contact you if a consultation or further information is needed.
Please request an extension in good time, but do not worry if your fit note has recently expired, as fit notes can usually be backdated where clinically appropriate.
Hospital admissions
If your absence was due to a hospital admission, the hospital should usually issue a fit note to cover that period. Please discuss this with the hospital.
Reports, forms and private fees
Some letters, forms, medicals and reports are not part of NHS services, so a private fee applies. These requests are handled outside routine appointments. Please hand in the paperwork and fee in advance, and contact the practice if you are not sure what you need.
| Service | Fee | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Statement of fact | £30 | Short factual statement signed by a GP, based on your record, no examination. |
| Report on a pro-forma | £60 to £120 | Completion of a structured form supplied by the requester. |
| Supplementary insurance report | £60 to £120 | Follow-up questions relating to a previous insurer report. |
| Written report | £120 to £240 | Standard report or letter prepared from your records, without examination. |
| Life assurance or income protection report | £120 to £240 | Standard insurer (GP) report for a new application. |
| Detailed or complex report | £120 to £240 | Longer reports needing detailed review of the records, for example medico-legal. |
| HGV or PCV medical (D4) | £120 | Examination and completion of the DVLA D4 form, with a GP Partner. |
| Other medicals with report | £240 | Examination and report, for example employment, adoption or sports, up to one hour. |
| Power of attorney certificate | £120 | Certificate of capacity for power of attorney. |
| Shotgun or firearms licence report | £120 | Medical report for a licence application. |
| Private consultation | £120 | Private appointment at the practice for a non-NHS matter, including any private prescription issued. |
| Private home visit | £120 | Private home visit for a non-NHS matter. |
Non-NHS work is completed only as capacity allows, so we cannot promise a turnaround time and may not be able to accept every request, particularly during busy periods. If we are unable to help, we will let you know as soon as possible.
Other NHS services
Community Treatment and Care (CTAC) is an NHS Lothian nurse-led service providing wound care, suture removal, blood tests, some vaccinations and other treatment room procedures. Appointments are usually arranged for you by the practice.
NHS services you can contact yourself — including physiotherapy advice, community midwives, district nurses, health visitors and mental health support — are listed with phone numbers on our Self help page. See our Community health services pages for district nursing, health visiting, CTAC, physiotherapy, mental health and self-referral information. Not sure who is the best first contact for a problem? Try our A to Z: Who should I see?
Common questions
A normal result was expected. Why have I been asked to call?
All results are reviewed by a clinician before you are told the outcome. Being asked to call does not necessarily mean anything is wrong. Phone and press option 2, between 10am and 5pm.
Do I need a fit note for a short absence?
Not usually. For 7 days or fewer you can self-certify using form SC2 from GOV.UK or your employer. A fit note from the practice is only needed after more than 7 calendar days.
How do I get a private letter, medical or insurance form?
These are not part of NHS services and a private fee applies. Contact the practice to discuss what you need and the current fee. They are handled outside routine appointments.
Will the practice contact me if a result needs action?
We will try to contact you when a result needs action or follow-up. You should still check your own results and should not assume that no news means the result is normal.
Can reception explain my test result?
Reception can only provide information that a clinician has reviewed and authorised. Reception cannot interpret results or give clinical advice.
Why might I be asked to repeat a test?
A repeat may be needed because a result was borderline, a sample could not be processed, the timing was important, or a clinician wants to monitor or confirm a change.
Can a fit note be backdated?
A clinician may backdate a fit note where there is appropriate evidence that you were unfit for work. This is a clinical decision.
Who provides a fit note after hospital treatment?
The hospital team should normally issue the initial fit note for an admission or operation. Eastfield may help with ongoing certification once suitable clinical information has been received.
How long do private reports and forms take?
Private work is completed carefully around NHS clinical work and cannot normally be provided urgently or on demand. Ask reception about the likely timescale and fee.
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