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Helping your doctor to help you

By following eight simple tips you will be able to get the most out of the time you spend with your doctor, and make best use of all the other services your surgery provides

  • Read your doctor’s practice leaflet, which explains how the surgery works. For example, it will note how much time is needed for repeat prescriptions, and who will do simple tests like measuring blood pressure - it may be a nurse.
  • Be prepared. Read this book and refer to it when you’re ill.
  • Find out when your surgery is open, so that you know when you can make an appointment or get a prescription.
  • Keep your appointment or cancel it. If you can’t keep an appointment with your doctor or nurse, let your surgery know as soon as possible.

  • Think about why you are going to see the doctor, and make a note of what you want to discuss.

  • If you are nervous or worried, you may not remember what the doctor tells you, so take a friend or relative with you.
  • Ask questions if you don’t understand anything. If necessary, ask your doctor to write down the answers and explanations.
  • Think twice if you have a minor ailment. Do you really need to see your doctor? Have you tried the simple home remedies listed in this guide? Few illnesses need urgent medical attention, so try not to call out your doctor on an unnecessary visit to your home.
  • Help your doctor and surgery to have more time to help you when you really need it by following these guidelines. Also, check with your surgery whether you can phone in for advice.

If you have a complaint about your medical treatment, your surgery will be able to tell you what to do. You can also call your local Community Health Council (called the Local Health Council in Scotland and the Central Services Agency in N Ireland) for advice (number in local phone book).

dr_simon_fradd

by Dr Simon Fradd Chairman of the Doctor-Patient Partnership

Reproduced under the terms of Click-Use Licence number C2009000382. The content of this page has been published under a Click-Use Licence (link this to http://www.opsi.gov.uk/click-use/index) which covers the use of core Crown copyright information. The original material can be found on NHS Choices.