THE DOCTOR will see you now
GETTING THE MOST OUT OF YOUR APPOINTMENT
Atypical visit to the GP lasts around 15 minutes, which is not very long. You don’t want to leave feeling like you haven’t covered everything – here’s how to get the most out of a visit to your doctor.
• Be on time. Yes, there’s a good chance you could be kept waiting because GPs often seem to be running behind, especially if your appointment is at the end of the day, but if you’re late, you could miss your slot and disrupt the doctor’s busy schedule. You don’t want your session to be rushed when you finally get to see them.
• Be prepared. Time is very precious during these appointments and it can help if you note down details such as what your issue is, when it started, whether the symptoms have changed and what makes you feel better – or worse.
Don’t forget to also jot down any questions you have – it’s easy to forget them when you’re in the doctor’s surgery.
• Make sure you’re seeing the right person. You may have booked an appointment with your doctor, but in fact a practice nurse may be the best person to help you out. It can pay to talk to the receptionist and ask who it is best to see. Some practices with multiple doctors have GPs who specialise in different conditions. It can make sense for your usual GP to get you to see a colleague who is an expert in weight loss, diabetes, heart disease, neurological disorders etc.
• Go online. If the medical practice you go to has an online service with a portal for patients, like HealthPoint, make the most of it. You can easily do things like book appointments, check on test results and organise repeat prescriptions.
• Book a double appointment if you think you’re going to need extra time. If you suspect it’s going to be tricky to get through everything you want to talk to your doctor about in the allotted time, it’s worth booking two slots in a row.
• Don’t take the kids unless you really have no other options. Trying to look after a wailing baby or a stroppy toddler can be distracting for both you and the doctor, and may waste precious time.
• Be honest. Don’t fudge the truth if your GP asks things like how much you smoke or drink. They need all the facts to make a diagnosis, and if you tell them you only drink a couple of glasses of wine a day when in fact it is closer to a bottle, then you’re making their job harder and doing yourself a disservice, as they may not be able to work out what’s wrong if they don’t have all the facts.
• Don’t be embarrassed. If you’re too shy to mention an issue you are having because you don’t want that area of your anatomy examined, you need to get over it and come straight out with what’s wrong. Doctors really have seen it all.
• Dress sensibly. If there is a chance you’re going to disrobe to be examined, make sure you are wearing clothing that can easily be removed. Struggling to get in and out of outfits can take up valuable time.
• Tell them about any supplements you are taking. Some supplementary vitamins and minerals can affect medication you’re on or symptoms that you have. Make sure you know what it is you take (take a photo of the label with your phone, if necessary) and how often you take it.
• Don’t quote Dr Google at your GP. It’s only natural these days to look up your symptoms
online, but don’t go charging into your doctor’s office insisting you must have a particular illness because the internet says so. There’s a reason why your doctor trained for so many years. However, if your online research has raised concerns because of the symptoms you have, it won’t hurt to mention what you’ve found, even if it is just so your GP can rule it out.
• Consider taking someone with you. If there’s a chance it could be bad news or you’re going to be given lots of information that may be difficult for you to absorb, see if a family member or friend can go with you. They can comfort you while also taking in and even writing down the details.
• Ask your doctor to recap at the end of the visit so you can ensure that you’ve processed everything correctly and know what happens next.