In my view... Why doctors should listen to patients

A TRAINING course was held recently for 200 hairdressers who were learning how to identify and advise their clients on domestic abuse.

Given that people tend to find and stick to a single hairdresser, with whom they often develop a close relationship, hairdressers are, I believe, well placed to assist.

The benefit of a trusted, discreet professional relationship cannot be over emphasised. There was a time when the relationship with a family doctor held the same value, but sadly this closeness of contact has been eroded due to the increasingly complex demands of medical care and an ageing population.

This, coupled with a reduction in GP numbers, has resulted in unmanageable workloads, high levels of disillusionment and burnout.

But rather than working to improve the doctor/patient relationship, the powers that be seem determined to do the reverse.

To me, it seems morale of GPs is being constantly eroded by cutbacks, leading yet more to choose to leave, when already 40 per cent of doctors plan to go in the next five years. The latest moves to secure the reversal of controversial cuts during the austerity years will help GPs but the full restoration will not be complete until 2022.

For patients, it’s important that you can discuss your issues about treatment. Concerns about delays, cancelled appointments, lack of information, or disappointments about treatment, can be addressed and resolved by giving feedback (in our compulsory appraisals GPs have to confirm that we provide opportunities for that).

The best way to get good care from your practice is to develop a warm and confident relationship with your doctor — just as one might with a hairdresser.