Blood tests, X-ray, ultrasound, CT or MRI: a referral assessed in writing

The Test Referral service is a written medical assessment: you say which test you are looking for and why, a doctor reads your questionnaire, and if he considers a referral appropriate he issues one for laboratory tests, an X-ray, an ultrasound, a CT or an MRI scan. There is no phone call and no video consultation. The assessment costs 19,90 €; the test itself is paid for separately at the lab or clinic that carries it out, which also decides whether to accept the referral.

What you can ask for, and what falls outside

A referral is a signed document in which a doctor asks a laboratory or a diagnostic centre to carry out a test. In the form you choose the type of test from six options, and you can tick more than one: laboratory tests such as blood work, an X-ray, an ultrasound, a CT scan, an MRI scan, or another test that the list does not name. If you pick that last option, your description needs to make clear which test you mean.

Endoscopies, such as a gastroscopy or a colonoscopy, are not part of this service, and neither is any kind of procedure. If a procedure is what you need, it is better discussed with a doctor who can see you in person, whether that is your GP or a specialist.

The reason you give carries the request

The description of the test you have in mind and of your reason for it is a required field. The doctor works from that text, so write it the way you would explain it to a doctor sitting across the desk from you. Name the test if you know it, say what has led you to it, and add the background that makes it relevant: how long a symptom has been there, what has already been tried, or which earlier result you would like checked again.

Earlier results, a letter from another doctor or any other document connected with the request can be uploaded as files. This part is optional. Even so, a previous result often says more than a paragraph of description, particularly when the point of the request is to repeat a test you have had before.

Your details and your general health

Besides the reason, the form asks for your personal details and an identity document, so that the referral is made out in the right name. It also covers your health in general: long-term conditions, allergies, the medicines you take and whether you are pregnant. The doctor reads these answers alongside your request, so a short, accurate list helps more than a blank field or a guess.

If you are unsure about part of your history, say so plainly rather than leaving it out. A doctor can work with an honest 'I am not sure'; a gap he has to fill in himself is harder to deal with. A clear account at the start usually saves a round of questions later on.

Questions from the doctor, and a possible no

When something is missing or unclear, the doctor asks in writing. His messages appear in the chat in your patient account, and we send you an email when one is waiting for you. The request stays open until you reply, so it is worth keeping an eye on your inbox after you submit it.

The decision is the doctor's alone. He may issue a referral for the tests you asked about, or he may decline. A refusal is a possible result of a medical assessment rather than a technical fault, and it does not mean that your concern is unimportant. It means that, on the information in front of him, he is not prepared to sign that referral. How the fee is treated when that happens is explained further down.

The referral, and the lab or clinic you choose

If the doctor issues a referral, you get it as a PDF in English, signed by him. It goes to the email address on your request and also stays in your patient account, so you can open it again or print it before your appointment.

From there, the facility decides. The lab or clinic where you want the test done decides whether it accepts the referral, and the test is paid for there, separately from our fee. We cannot promise that a particular facility will accept it, that the cost will be reimbursed, or that public health cover will apply. Before you book, ask the facility whether it will carry out the test on this referral and what it charges.

Price, and the refund rules

The assessment costs 19,90 €, paid once. The fee covers the medical consultation, not the issuing of a document: the doctor decides only after reviewing your form. If he declines for medical or legal reasons, the fee is refunded in full. If he asks you for documentation, you have at least 7 days to provide it, and we will remind you before the deadline; if the consultation cannot be completed, the full amount is refunded as well.

We do not give a turnaround time. It turns on the number of requests in the doctor's queue and on whether your answers leave anything open, and a figure we could not stand behind would only mislead you.

When to call 112 instead, and who reviews requests

This service is not meant for emergencies. If you have chest pain, sudden difficulty breathing, weakness or numbness on one side of the body, or any other symptom that cannot wait, call 112 rather than filling in a form. A referral also does not replace a GP who follows your health over time; it can help in a gap, but it is not ongoing care.

Requests are reviewed by lek. Damian Wojno, a doctor registered with the Polish Medical Chamber, licence no. 3211301. A referral he issues carries his signature.

Can I ask for more than one test in one request?

Yes. You can tick several types at once, for example laboratory tests together with an ultrasound. Explain in the description what each test is for, so the doctor can consider the request as a whole.

Is a colonoscopy or a gastroscopy covered?

No. Endoscopies and procedures are outside this service. What you can choose is a laboratory test, an X-ray, an ultrasound, CT, MRI or another test that you describe yourself.

Do I need earlier results before I apply?

No, attaching files is optional. If you do have previous results or other documents linked to the request, uploading them gives the doctor more to work with.

Will I have to speak to the doctor?

No. There is no phone call and no video consultation. If the doctor needs more information, he writes to you in the chat in your patient account, and we let you know by email that a message is waiting.

What language is the referral in?

English. You receive it as a PDF signed by the doctor, by email and in your patient account.

Does the lab have to accept it, and who pays for the test?

The lab or clinic decides whether to accept the referral, and we cannot promise that it will. The test is paid for at the facility, separately from our fee, and we cannot promise reimbursement or public health cover.

What happens to my money if the doctor says no?

If the doctor declines for medical or legal reasons, the 19,90 € fee is refunded in full. If you were asked for documentation and the consultation could not be completed, the full amount is refunded too.