To get the best from the limited time you have at a doctor’s appointment, follow these fundamental rules...

A recent survey revealed that two-thirds of you feel rushed at the doctor’s surgery and, with the average appointment lasting only seven minutes, perhaps that’s not surprising. The government has also scrapped the commitment that you should all be able to see your GP within 48 hours, which means it could be harder to get an appointment in the first place. So it’s vital that, when you do see your GP, you get the right diagnosis and treatment. Here’s what your GP wants you to do…

1. Get straight to the point
The reason: Your doctor needs enough time for a proper diagnosis.
So you have to see your doctor about unusual discharge/a bowel problem/incontinence. It’s not always easy to talk about issues you perceive to be embarrassing, but whatever you do, don’t spend the appointment discussing something innocuous and only bring up the real reason for your visit just before you leave. ‘The “doorknob moment” can be difficult,’ says Dr Chris Steele. ‘It’s often presented as an aside, but in fact is their real concern.’ 

Doctors do understand that it can be hard to discuss certain things, but they really have heard it all before. You’re more likely to get the right care if you give your GP enough time to consider your problem properly.

2. Be honest about your alcohol intake
The reason: Your GP needs to know if your drinking is making you ill.
If you’ve been knocking back three times the recommended units each day, you may need to have your liver health checked. In the early stages, damage to your liver won’t show any symptoms so your doctor will have no way of knowing it’s an issue unless you admit to your alcohol intake. ‘Heavy drinking can also be linked to conditions such as depression and, in men, erectile dysfunction, so it’s important your GP knows if this may be a factor,’ says Dr Steele. In addition, alcohol can affect the action of medication including anti-depressants.

3. Tell your doctor about natural medicines
The reason: They can stop your prescription working.
Don’t assume that, just because you bought something in a natural health store, that you don’t need to mention it to your doctor. Some herbs can interact with prescription medicines. For instance, St John’s Wort, ginkgo biloba and echinacea have been found to affect the recovery of patients after surgery, interfere with prescribed anti-depressants and thin the blood – which can be dangerous if you’re already taking blood-thinning medicine. St John’s Wort may also stop the contraceptive Pill from working effectively, potentially resulting in an unwanted pregnancy. Themessage? Tell your doctor if you’re taking natural medicines.

4. Admit to your social smoking habit
The reason: Even the occasional cigarette is dangerous.
Any tobacco can cause damage. In fact, the British Lung Foundation (www.lunguk.org) has warned that ‘binge smoking’ – puffing a few cigarettes in a short space of time, even if you don’t do it daily – may be more damaging to the heart and lungs than smoking the same amount over the course of a day. And while the risk of lung cancer rises with the number of cigarettes smoked per day, how long you’ve smoked is the greatest risk. So your GP has to know if you smoke so they can judge whether it’s causing some of your health problems.

5. Tell your GP about past terminations
The reason: If you’re trying to get pregnant, a past abortion may affect your fertility.
In very rare cases, there may be some complications arising from a termination, including damage to the uterus, which may make a future pregnancy harder to sustain, or an infection, which can cause scarring and affect conception chances, increasing the risk of an ectopic pregnancy. You wouldn’t necessarily be aware if this was a problem, so if you’re struggling to conceive, always mention any terminations to your GP.

6. Don’t ignore the smear test invitation
The reason: It could save your life.
‘A call for a smear test, which picks up the cell changes that may lead to cervical cancer, is easy to ignore, especially if you’re busy, but they do save thousands of lives,’ says Dr Chris. ‘So it’s vital you go when you’re called.’ The same applies to other health screening tests such as mammograms.

7. Be open about your sexual history
The reason: Your symptoms could be down to an STI.
Yes, it can feel slightly awkward admitting you have strange discharge after sleeping with a new man – particularly if your doctor’s known you for years and has treated your kids for tonsillitis. But if he doesn’t know you have had a new sexual partner, he may assume another, non-sexually transmitted condition, such as thrush, and you won’t get
the treatment you need. If you really feel awkward about discussing STIs with your family doctor, go to a GUM clinic instead. It’s confidential and won’t go on your medical records.

8. Be truthful if you haven’t managed to take your medication
The reason: It might explain ongoing health problems.
It’s a common gripe among GPs – patients fail to finish taking their antibiotics, or frequently forget their regular medication. But most of us don’t like to admit it. It’s important to confess, though, so your doctor understands why you’re not improving. If you don’t tell your doctor you’ve missed your medication, he may think you need an alternative, which may be unnecessarily strong [particularly in the case of medicines such as beta blockers or painkillers] and mean you end up putting up with unwanted side effects.

Plan ahead: making the most of your appointment

• Describe your symptoms clearly

Your idea of a tension headache may not be the same as someone else’s. But if you say the pain is a band across your forehead that descends into your face, your doctor will know just what you mean. Your GP won’t mind if you take  a notepad with a list of symptoms. ‘Mention everything, even if it seems irrelevant to you,’ says Dr Chris Steele.

• Use the internet – wisely

It can be very helpful to use reputable health websites – such as NHS Direct, or thefamilygp.com – to check out your symptoms. That way, you can work out whether it’s a real emergency, or if a practice nurse or pharmacist could help. ‘A GP won’t mind if you tell them you’ve researched your symptoms online,’ says Dr Chris. But don’t take vast printouts to your doctor, or insist on a particular diagnosis.

• Book a double appointment if you need to

Have more than one problem to discuss? Explain that to the receptionist when you book, and she’ll slot you in for
a longer appointment. It’s better than trying to squeeze everything into one short space.