GET THE BEST OUT OF YOUR DOCTOR
DR MARTIN STAGG TELLS AMY PACKER HOW TO GET THE HEALTH CARE YOU NEED, WHEN YOU NEED IT
WITH the number of patients waiting more than a month to see a GP soaring by up to 79%, Dr Martin Stagg – aka the Real Doc Martin – says preparation is key if you want to be taken seriously by your local surgery.
“Getting it right starts the moment you pick up the phone,” says Martin. “Many people are offended when the surgery receptionist asks them what is wrong, assuming they are being nosey, but this is essential to ensure you get the right type of appointment with the right practitioner.
“If they ask you for a brief description of the issues you are having that’s because they need to ensure you see the correct member of staff, whether that’s the GP, a nurse or an emergency care practitioner.
“You don’t have to go into too much personal detail, but you do need to be prepared to give a concise explanation of what you think might be wrong, or an outline of your symptoms and how urgently you need to be seen. Is this something that has come on suddenly or has it gradually become worse over days or even months?
“You don’t always need to see the doctor, either. If you need a cervical smear test or routine vaccinations then you need an appointment with the practice nurse in the appropriate clinic.
“It is also a waste of your and the GP’s time if you book in to see them about dental problems, however difficult it is for you to access dental care. Sadly, this still happens a lot more than you might expect, but a doctor simply won’t be able to help and it takes a valuable appointment slot away from someone else who requires it.”
Don’t feel fobbed off if you are directed to a pharmacy instead of being given an appointment.
“Pharmacists can offer advice, over-the-counter medication and even some antibiotics to help with a range of common conditions and minor injuries, from coughs and colds to rashes and urinary tract infections.”
IN THE SURGERY
When it comes to speaking to the doctor, if you’re feeling nervous or are worried you may not remember everything you need to say, taking some notes along with you could help you focus, advises Martin.
“A written note for you to read or to hand straight to the doctor is completely acceptable,” he says.
“However, it is sensible to keep any lists short and reasonable if you want to give the doctor a decent chance of dealing with your main symptoms and worries in the allocated time.”
Martin adds: “The key is to imagine yourself in the GP’s position. Many of them will be overwhelmed by patients who bring a lengthy list of problems along to every appointment, be that face to face, video or a telephone consultation. It may be hard for them to then give their full attention to all of these problems.
“The worst thing you can do is exhaust all of the GP’s time and attention dealing with your less crucial things, leaving insufficient time to concentrate on your main or most worrying problem.”
Instead, focus on the most pressing issues. “It is helpful if you can summarise things at the start of your appointment so that both of you can focus on your priorities.
“For example, ‘I’ve got a few symptoms to ask about, although I think they are part of the same condition. I would also like to arrange my routine blood test if we have time at the end’, would be a really helpful way to begin.
“Of course, that doesn’t mean your GP would ever expect you to diagnose yourself. Instead, a few sentences explaining the order that things have happened in and anything you have already tried to deal with the issue, can be really helpful. “A written note of any over-thecounter medications you have used will be worthwhile at this stage, as well as confessing about any prescription drugs that you may have borrowed from family members – a practice that is entirely inappropriate and potentially very dangerous, but happens far more often than you might think.
“It may be a bit more difficult for you to plan and summarise as clearly as this if you have emotional or mental health concerns, and your GP will understand that.
“These are, after all, among the most common things that they see and deal with every day, so never hold back on seeking help because you are worried about what needs to be said.”
DR GOOGLE
While the medic you are consulting is an expert with years of training, Martin says it doesn’t mean you shouldn’t be allowed an opinion or to make treatment suggestions.
“You are absolutely entitled to request or suggest medications or other treatments that you think may be helpful and appropriate for your problems,” he says.
“Your GP should also not be at all offended or upset if you tell him or her about an internet search that you have undertaken about your symptoms. But equally, you should not be offended if your findings are dismissed by the doctor.
“They have the knowledge and skills to assess your overall condition, whereas the search engine only responds to the things that you type in and doesn’t usually look at other features about you which would make a particular diagnosis unlikely.
“A good example of this was a time when one of my patients attended with a printed internet search which stated that their symptoms could be caused by prostate cancer. I was quickly able to tell the patient that the symptoms were certainly not, because they were only 23 years old and female.
“In fairness, nothing on the page mentioned that biological females do not have a prostate, so there was some mitigation for her confusion.”
BRING A BUDDY
Your doctor won’t be fazed if you bring a family member or close friend along with you.
“You are free, and actively encouraged, to bring somebody else into the appointment with you if you feel that you would benefit from some support,” says Martin.
“In fact, this is important if you are forgetful – either when it comes to asking questions in the moment or remembering what has been said during a session you find stressful – or may need help with explanations after the appointment.”
Just be sure to remind them that they are not running the show.
“It is particularly helpful if you remind the person you bring not to be too chatty, as they could distract you and the GP and eat into your appointment time.
“In my experience, it is also not at all unusual for the friend or relative to try and get a bonus consultation for themselves while they are there.”
If all this sounds like more than you can handle, don’t worry.
“Much of the advice I’ve given here is very unlikely to be followed by most patients, most of the time, as they may be too busy or too worried to prepare like this for a GP appointment,” says Martin.
“That’s fine of course. GPs are skilled at performing consultations without any such preparation, but the more you can help them to focus on managing your problem, the better it is for you.
“If you are an infrequent or occasional attender at your GP surgery, he or she will know they would be well advised to pay full attention to your worries.”
It is helpful if you can summarise things at the start of your appointment so that both of you can focus on your priorities Dr Martin Stagg