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Why we have given you this information
Some children will be discharged home from the PAU before their test results become available.
This is because some laboratory tests take a few days, or sometimes weeks, to come back.
The medical team will have assessed your child as safe to go home while waiting for these results.
How long it takes for tests to come back
The length of time it takes depends on the type of test. Some tests take only a few hours, and most of these children wait to receive the results before going home.
Cultures take 48 to 72 hours. (A culture is a test that looks for germs which cause infection. Common cultures are blood, urine or throat swabs).
Some complex tests can take weeks or months to return results.
The doctor or nurse who discharges your child will tell you what to expect, depending on the test.
How you will hear about your child’s results
If the results come back within a week, a hospital doctor will call you with results.
If the results take more than a week to come back, we will either:
- Call you and give you the results, or
- Arrange a follow-up appointment so we can discuss the results with you.
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Before you take your child home from the hospital, make sure we have the correct contact details for you.
Let us know if you will need an interpreter when we call you with your child’s results. |
What to do if you have not received your child's test results
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If you have not heard about results expected back within a week: Call Dolphin Ward on 020 8934 2328. The ward will take your details and arrange for a doctor to call you. |
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If you have not heard about results expected to take longer than a week: Call our admin team on 020 8934 6403. They will get in touch with your child’s consultant and they will let you know the results as soon as they can. |
If you are worried about your child's condition
The Paediatric Assessment Unit (PAU) cannot give medical advice over the phone.
If you are worried about your child, contact your GP or call NHS 111, or go to your nearest Emergency Department (A&E).
Contact information
Dolphin Ward
or
Paediatric Assessment Unit Admin Team