It can be frustrating when you are feeling unwell or have symptoms that you need addressed by your GP. In order to ensure you get the most out of your doctor appointment within the time allotted, follow these simple tips below to make life that little bit easier in times of need to have you on the road to recovery quicker!
Keep time in mind (and be on time):
It is worthwhile to write down and make note of the issues you would like to discuss with your GP during your appointment. It is equally important to be conscious of time. Each consultation is apportioned for 15 minutes, ideally to deal with 1 to 2 maximum problems. Bear in mind within this 15 minutes the doctor will need to take full appropriate history and detailed history to find the possible root cause of the problem; followed by examination, arranging investigations, referrals, prescriptions, sharing back and explaining to you about the management plan and necessary follow ups.
Know your issues, but don’t bring a shopping list:
Begin your consultation by picking the most pressing problem to discuss first, but keep in mind your 15 minute time frame. Your doctor can help you prioritise your problem lists and then he/she may be able to advise what is most important and what they are realistically able to deal with within the booked appointment time. If the doctor has no other patient waiting, he/she will gladly help you with all your required problems, however during busy periods it is unfair for other patients to wait long times who also have their own commitments and work to attend to. You may consider booking a double appointment if required.
Think ahead:
If you have a hunch what your symptoms may mean before having your doctor confirm them, try to think ahead about what your GP may need to speed up your diagnosis. For example, if you have familiar symptoms of an ailment you have had before, for example symptoms of a kidney infection, bring a urine sample so as your doctor can medically test it immediately, saving time during your appointment to discuss next steps.
Bear in mind potential waiting times:
Keep in mind expected waiting times when you are visiting your doctor. We try to run as close to schedule as possible but delays can happen. If the doctor is delayed in keeping your appointment time, there can be many reasons for that.
Just a few examples of why delays happen: The doctor may be handling an acute emergency. There may be patient with a severe mental health issue and had severe need to have more time spent with them. There may have been a language barrier which required translation which would take more time than usual.There are lots of things happening behind the scenes!
If you feel you are unable to wait, please let the receptionists know and this will be communicated to your doctor so that he/she is aware. However, if you cannot wait and would like to rebook an appointment for another, less busier time, feel free to cancel and rebook again. The receptionists in a clinic can help to gauge who will be seen next and how many are before you before being seen.
Understand your diagnosis:
It’s important that when you leave your appointment you have a full understanding of your diagnosis and/or the medications you have been prescribed to assist you with it. It can sometimes be hard to remember everything your GP tells you about your ailment, or the medications they are prescribing you, but simply jotting down quick points summarising the advice you’ve been given is a good way for you to remember what to do next. Understanding your diagnosis and knowing your next steps will help you get the most out of your advice, as well as helping your doctor ensure you fully understand the issue so you can be on a quicker road to recovery.
Find a familiar face:
Attending a familiar GP within a practice has many benefits. It can lead to quicker diagnoses and better understanding. It can alleviate the lengthy task of having to go into detail about your health in the past and any areas of concern your GP would need to know about. Having a comfortable and familiar relationship with your doctor can help you also feel more relaxed when explaining your issues and allows your GP to develop a deeper understanding of you and your medical health.
Be honest and leave embarrassment at the door:
Be as honest as you can when answering questions as this will help your GP diagnose your issue quicker. No answer or question is stupid or ‘wrong’, and no ailment embarrassing. Your doctor is a professional who understands all medical issues and the nuances of them. Keep in mind they most likely hear the same symptoms from other patients very regularly, so you have nothing to worry or be embarrassed about.
Know your next steps:
It is so important to know the next steps before you leave your appointment. Common next steps would include; picking up a prescription from the chemist, lifestyle change, further tests like bloods or xrays. If you are unsure what the next steps are, it is very fair to ask your Doctor before you leave your appointment.
