'Stop sending unsolicited urine samples', says GP

The Saltoun Surgery is now only accepting urine samples that are requested by a staff member.

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A GP has asked people to stop sending “inappropriate or unsolicited” urine samples to the doctor’s surgery.

The Saltoun Surgery in Fraserburgh, Aberdeenshire, was forced to change its policy this week after receiving a “high volume” of unsolicited samples.

In a patient notice posted on social media, the surgery said: “Please be advised that we are no longer able to accept urine samples unless they have been specifically requested by the practice.”

The surgery is now only accepting urine samples that are requested by a staff member.

“This change is necessary due to the high volume of inappropriate or unsolicited samples being submitted, which affects our ability to provide timely care to all patients,” the patient notice said.

“Thank you for your understanding and co-operation.”

A spokesperson for the British Medical Association Scotland it is not possible to interpret the test results of urine samples without clinical information.

“Each unsolicited sample handed in requires time and medical supplies to test in practice, contact the patient for information and then interpret the results and/or send away for further testing,” spokesperson for the professional body said.

“There are significant time and financial costs to the NHS associated with this and as such urine samples should only be submitted where a clinician has judged there is a need for this.”