GP surgery awash with ‘tsunami of pee'
A medical practice has urged patients to stop dropping off unsolicited urine samples, saying the 'high volumes' are hindering their ability to provide timely care.
Saltoun Surgery in Fraserburgh, Aberdeenshire, has been inundated with specimens, forcing them to implement a strict new policy: no urine samples will be accepted unless specifically 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,' explained the practice manager in a statement.
While the image of a 'tsunami of pee in Fraserburgh doesn't really bear thinking about,' as one health agency spokesman put it, the issue of uninvited samples is not unique to Saltoun Surgery. The British Medical Association confirmed that 'unsolicited urine samples can be an issue' with practices developing their own solutions.
The surgery said the unsolicited samples were affecting its ability to offer timely care
Many GP surgeries have had to issue public notices, often via text messages or signs in their waiting rooms, explicitly stating that they will no longer accept unsolicited urine samples. In 2022, Hartshill Medical Centre, in Stoke-on-Trent, sent a text message to patients saying, 'Due to recent incidents, we will no longer be accepting unsolicited urine samples.'
The Royal College of General Practitioners (RCGP) offers guidelines for managing urine sample collection. Typically, practices provide patients with containers and clear instructions.
Speaking anonymously to The Times, one GP noted that many Scottish surgeries have signs discouraging unrequested samples. This is often aimed at older patients who suspect a urinary tract infection (UTI) and drop off samples without prior consultation.
'We really, really want patients to speak to a clinician for a proper medical assessment before we ask them to bring a sample in,' the GP said. 'And when they do, we will issue them with sample bottles to return, rather than random domestic containers which can sometimes be inappropriate.'
The RCGP's own website highlights a practice that successfully changed its processes after dealing with 20 to 30 unsolicited samples daily. By implementing new protocols from a UTI toolkit, the practice managed to streamline its system.
Patients often use 'random domestic containers' instead of sterile sample pots provided by the practice. This increases the risk of contamination, rendering the sample useless and potentially leading to inaccurate results.
Saltoun Surgery hopes its new policy, though strict, will allow the practice to better serve patients and manage the flow of vital medical information.
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