Private blood tests without the drama: how booking your own tests works.

Dr Hassan Paraiso
Dec 31, 2025
4 min read

One of the questions I hear most often in my practice is: “Can I just book a blood test without waiting for a consultation? ”For many people, the main barrier is not seeing a doctor — it’s getting the tests done. A GP may request bloods, but the appointment takes weeks. Results come back slowly. There is no clear explanation. Or you simply want clarity on a symptom that has been going on for too long.

That is exactly why I introduced a straightforward system: direct access to private blood tests, available across the UK, with a clear written report.

In this blog, I want to explain what this service does, what it does not do, and how to use it safely and appropriately.

Why allow people to book their own blood tests?

Most blood tests in internal medicine are not complex. They help to :

• explore persistent tiredness

• check for anaemia or iron deficiency

• assess thyroid function

• review metabolic markers

• check inflammatory markers

• understand palpitations or breathlessness

• investigate vague or confusing symptoms

The issue is usually not the test: the issue is the delay.

A typical NHS pathway may involve :

• waiting for a GP appointment

• then waiting for a phlebotomy slot

• then waiting for results

• then waiting for an explanation

For simple and common clinical questions, this delay is not always necessary.

Allowing direct access to blood tests means:

• faster answers

• fewer administrative bottlenecks

• clearer information to guide next steps

• more control for the patient

• less time spent worrying without data

What you can expect , and what you should not expect

Direct access testing is useful when used properly.

What you can expect

1. Quick and simple access

Choose your test, date and location. A trained professional performs the blood draw.

2. A clear written report

You receive the raw results plus an explanation in plain English.

3. Time saved

You no longer wait several weeks for a basic blood test.

4. Easy communication with your GP

Results can be shared with your GP for continuity of care.

What this service does not do

1. It does not replace a full clinical assessment

A blood test cannot replace an evaluation if your symptoms are worrying or persistent.

2. It is not an emergency pathway

If you have:

• sudden chest pain

• severe breathlessness

• new weakness

• heavy bleeding

• sudden confusion

… you must call 999 or go to A&E. A blood test is not appropriate in these situations.

3. It is not a diagnostic machine

A blood panel is only one part of the puzzle. Results need clinical interpretation.

4. It is not a tool for excessive testing

My role is not to encourage unnecessary investigations. It is to help you get the right tests when they are genuinely helpful.

How booking your own blood tests works

The process is designed to be simple and safe.

Step 1: Choose the test you need

Common options include:

• full blood count

• kidney and liver function

• CRP / inflammatory markers

• ferritin / iron studies

• vitamin B12 and folate

• vitamin D

• thyroid function tests (TSH, T4)

• metabolic markers (cholesterol, HbA1c)

If you are unsure which test to choose, that is a sign that a consultation — online or in person — may be useful.

Step 2: Choose the location

Tests can be done at partner sites across the UK.

Step 3: Receive your results

Most results return within 24–48 hours, depending on the test. You receive them securely, along with a clear written interpretation.

Step 4: Decide what to do next

Depending on the complexity of the results:

• you may simply share them with your GP,

• you may continue your usual care,

• or you may book a consultation to discuss them in depth.

The goal is that you are not left uncertain.

When direct access blood tests are a good idea

• persistent fatigue lasting several weeks

• suspected anaemia

• a thyroid concern

• a blood test already requested by a GP but delayed

• metabolic follow-up (cholesterol, HbA1c)

• vitamin D checks in winter

• reassurance between GP appointments

When you should see a doctor first

• new chest discomfort

• breathlessness with dizziness

• palpitations with fainting or near-fainting

• unexplained weight loss

• persistent fever

• neurological symptoms

• abdominal pain that is severe or worsening

In these cases, the priority is the clinical assessment, not the test.

Why safety remains the priority

As a consultant in Acute and General Internal Medicine, my responsibility is not only to facilitate access to tests; it is to ensure they are used meaningfully.

Blood tests help to:

• confirm a suspected diagnosis

• rule out concerning conditions

• direct next steps• provide objective reassurance

But they must never delay an urgent medical review.

What I bring to this process

• I help you identify the tests that genuinely matter

• I interpret your results clearly, in plain English

• I explain what is normal, what is borderline, and what needs follow-up

• I advise when a consultation is appropriate• I work alongside your GP, not instead of them

My aim is simple:

to help you move forward safely, without unnecessary delays.