X-Ray

[CJHorse]

Today my GP referred me for a knee X-Ray. The hospital staff said he will have the results in three weeks. Why so long? I'd have thought that these days it could be e-mailed almost immediately.

[cassa333]

I think it is a case that someone interprets the image first but not sure.

[ummmm]

I think they give you worse case scenario so could be much sooner.

[Sqad]

What a very good question......."why so long?"
Ineptitude......there is no reason why a patient should have to wait 3 weeks for the results of ANY investigation.

[jourdain2]

Inefficient system is the reason. After living in France all those years this is one aspect of the NHS which appals me. I had several (many) X-rays there and 90% of the time I waited about 30 mins. before leaving the hospital with not only my images, but also an analysis in an envelope for me to pop into my GP's surgery -Oh! and a copy for me. Cuts out postage and many middlemen.

[jno]

I have been told (by an Australian GP) that UK X-rays are sometimes sent to Australia to be interpreted. One of my British GPs was furious that the NHS apparently didn't trust him to analyse his own patients' X-rays.

That was some years ago and I don't know if it's still the case.

[sunny-dave]

It's getting really silly now - my local hospital can actually do X-Ray and even MRI scans within a couple of days - but there is a three week (minimum) wait for results.

There's no excuse for it - someone needs their behind kicking for letting the radiologists get so far behind ... funnily enough those same radiologists provide a 24hr turnround for interpreting private MRI scans.

It's just heartbreaking - the PCT based NHS had virtually eliminated this sort of wait, but they were abolished for ideological reasons and this is the result three years on. A disgrace.

[jourdain2]

Ummm - I had an\X-ray on my wrist here and did have to wait 3 weeks. I've started complaining and telling people of

[Sqad]

jno

\\\\\\\\ One of my British GPs was furious that the NHS apparently didn't trust him to analyse his own patients' X-rays. \\\\\

I wouldn't trust him either.

[ummmm]

I can't remember how long I waited for my chest x-ray results. It would have been 30 odd years ago. The only other x-rays I've had were for broken bones.

[slaney]

Seems a bit long - I think the average turnaround time for GP X-rays is 1-3 days.
Interesting jourdain, but you have to remember in France there are 15 radiologists per 100,000 population - in the UK there are less than 7 radiologists per 100,000, so not all delay is due to inefficiency.

[jno]

why not, Sqad?

[murraymints]

I had a 5 day wait for chest x ray a month or so ago..but radiologist told me there and then it was clear !!!

[Sqad]

jno.....because Radiology is a speciality on it's own, taking 6 years at least to train to become a Consultant Radiologist and personally I would only value the opinion of a Radiologist...........for my heart, a Cardiologist.....for my head a Neurosurgeon or Neurologist....... get the picture?

[murraymints]

for my anus..an ar@@hole !!! lol xx

[campbellking]

If there was an acute problem with it, you would be informed more quickly. Generally speaking, at our place, CTs and MRIs are reported with much more urgency.

[fraserstuart]

sorry i can beat that,you gp says x ray required got one same morning
and was told to phone surgery in 10 days, done that to be told doc wants to see you ok make me an appointment which the receptionist did, quickest one three and a half weeks and that would be a phonecall appointment 44 days to get result to be told you were the same as your last x ray everything was ok when i complained was told got to prioritise

[anneasquith]

NHS has not got an abundance of radiologists, stated above any abnormalities are dealt with quicker.

[Sqad]

That's not what slaney said above.^^^^

[jno]

fair enough, Sqad; he just wanted to see if I had pneumonia, which he had already (correctly) diagnosed. It meant however that it got steadily worse for three weeks while I waited for the radiologists to report the results. In the end I was on antibiotics for more than a month. I'd like to think that could be more expeditious.

[Sqad]

jno...;-)