"Blood test nightmare"

An ongoing saga.

I booked myself in for a cholesterol test because I have a family history of high cholesterol. Got a blood test booked, went in and had it done - all fine. Told I would be called re: results by the following Thursday. Thursday comes and goes, but I am concerned so I ring up to check.

Apparently the blood test has flagged "something" and I need follow up tests. When I asked what it flagged, I was told the receptionist didn't know but they tried to contact me (I got no letter and they'd typed my phone number in wrong...) and a doctor would tell me more at my next appointment.

Booked an appointment for the following Monday. Turned up and I was faced with a nurse - who took 2 vials of blood for "some tests". When I asked what follow up tests were for... She said she didn't know. Understandably I was quite upset/anxious about this. Why does no one know what my blood is being tested for?! I expressed that I was anxious and the nurse said a doctor would ring me that evening to explain.

I got a phone call at 4pm on Monday from the doctor's receptionist. Who said "the doctor will ring you when the rest of your results are in". I expressed that I just wanted to know a) what the results of the first test were and b) what the second tests were checking.

She said "im not clinically trained to answer that" and basically just left it at that.

So now it is three days later, all silent in terms of results, and I've been so anxious and panicked. I managed to calm myself down by reading through the NHS best practice for lipid clinic referral and understanding the tests recommended - liver function, diabetes, and kidney function - but a health care professional should have gone through this with me! No one has weighed me, taken my blood pressure, talked to me about my diet - nothing.

I really feel that the bloods taken the second time lacked informed consent. Not such an issue for routine tests but I'd hate to think this dismissive, secretive, and downright disrespectful attitude is taken during other medical procedures.