"Test results and letters to patients"

I so agree with Theo (No coherent system to obtain test results, Lincolnshire, posted 3 February). There seems to be no easy way to find out results except by trying to get through to the consultant's secretary/nurse - that is, through the busy hospital switchboard to an ansaphone. How much of their valuable time must be spent answering such questions? Also despite having indicated that I wish to receive a copy of all letters sent out after appointments, I have to ring up on every occasion and request them. I have also been in the position of attending the next appointment only to find that the consultant has not received the results and has not chased them up. It seems that on the one hand patients are being encouraged to manage their own conditions but on the other we are not considered important/intelligent enough to know test results or to be included in correspondence about our condition. I would gladly give out my email for this purpose and dream of the day when it would be possible to log into a website and download results, with a brief interpretation from the consultant if necessary.