Sudden letter from GP asking OH to go for blood test

littlerock

OH is remarkably fit and well and has not been to GP for several years, last went several years ago for a nasty cough which soon cleared up. Now all of a sudden out of the blue he has had a letter from the practice saying his GP wants him to have a blood test.

No explanation why. Nothing else. It does not say even that it is routine. He phoned the practice to ask why and all they would say was GP had requested it.

Is there some sort of checkup going round for older men (OH is 66) which needs a blood test? OH is why of those men who likes to keep away from the doctor.

fixx

It might just be his practice being proactive about monitoring their patients health.

Blood tests are really fantastic things - IMO more people should get them, and much more often. They are great for finding a whole variety of different things, or even finding minor imbalances and helping you lead a healthier life.

I'd say he shouldn't be worried - but be really happy to have the opportunity to get a really good checkup!

Personally - I get blood tests at least once a year due to a genetic condition, and I always find the results fascinating, and a good measure of what my health is like.

Februarycat

I know when I had a health check done I had to get a blood test done first, then book for a health check 2 weeks later. Maybe this is what your OH is being asked to do. I don't visit my GP often either.

Mojisola

littlerock wrote: »

OH is remarkably fit and well and has not been to GP for several years

Now all of a sudden out of the blue he has had a letter from the practice saying his GP wants him to have a blood test.

Could be this -
https://www.menshealthforum.org.uk/nhs-health-checks

Keep_pedalling

If he had not been for many years then he would be a fool not to go. He should already have been called in for a couple of things by now. 1. pneumonia vaccine 2. Abdominal aortic aneurysm screening.

His blood test will look at things like cholesrtol levels and diabetics.

KxMx

Does your surgery offer telephone appointments? If so, he can speak to the requesting GP direct and ask them.

keithdc

fixx wrote: »

Blood tests are really fantastic things - IMO more people should get them, and much more often. They are great for finding a whole variety of different things, or even finding minor imbalances and helping you lead a healthier life.

Random blood tests are an appalling idea- they are expensive and throw up spurious results.

People should get blood tests only when advised by a health professional (not one that will benefit from you having a blood test)- for the OP, this seems to be the case.

Agree with other's advice to contact GP to ask for reason for request.

Keep_pedalling

keithdc wrote: »

Random blood tests are an appalling idea- they are expensive and throw up spurious results.

People should get blood tests only when advised by a health professional (not one that will benefit from you having a blood test)- for the OP, this seems to be the case.

Agree with other's advice to contact GP to ask for reason for request.

A health professional has asked for a blood test, and probably for preventative measures nothing wrong with that. The GP has nothing to profit from doing this.

keithdc

Keep_pedalling wrote: »

A health professional has asked for a blood test, and probably for preventative measures nothing wrong with that. The GP has nothing to profit from doing this.

My post was based on the post by "fixx" suggesting that random blood tests were helpful, and the fact that there are many companies offering these (which is why I quoted fixx).


As also indicated in my post, it would be wise for the OP to question what the test is for as:
1) The letter may have been sent in error,
2) The OP needs to understand why it is being done in order to consent to it.