How to get the best from your Doctor

You are responsible for your own and your dependants’ health

• When things go wrong with your health your Doctor and you can work together to evaluate problems and make decisions on treatment.
• Sometimes there are barriers to effective communication with your Doctor.
• You may go away from the consultation feeling frustrated that you did not achieve the outcome you hoped for.
• You may feel anxious about talking and communication maybe impaired.

These are some ways to avoid this.

Making an appointment

Please telephone for an appointment on 2146222

Our standard appointment is 10-15 minutes. If you think you will need longer than that please tell the receptionist. This is good manners so that the Doctor can allow sufficient time to deal properly with your problems. The Doctor then will not feel pressured to move too quickly through the issues you wish to raise, due to running out of time and the pressure of the full waiting room.

Please cancel the appointment if circumstances change and the consultation is no longer required. We reserve the right to charge for missed appointments.

Before the appointment

Please think about what you would like to cover in the consultation.

A written list of points may help ensure nothing is missed. Brief written notes about the nature and site of a problem, the duration of symptoms and any associated features will be welcomed.

During the consultation

Please do not apologise for coming. We know people do not make appointments when it is not necessary.

Bring a support person with you if you wish.

Please identify the problem and what it is about it that really worries you.

If there is more than one problem please indicate this at the beginning.

Sometimes making a written or mental list is helpful.

A written list identifies the problem and shows the doctor you are a well-organised thoughtful person.

Please listen carefully.

If you do not understand what the Doctor is saying please say then that you do not understand.

If necessary ask for the advice to be repeated.

Say so if something seems wrong about the advice you are receiving.

After the appointment

Please feel free to ring back if there are points you would like to clarify. The receptionist will take your details and we will telephone back at a convenient time.

If things go wrong

In medicine things will sometimes go wrong. This is an unfortunate fact of life.

In many cases things go wrong because of a failure of communication between Doctor and Patient. The Doctor’s understanding of the problem may differ from the patient’s ideas. The Patient may feel not listened to or that the Doctor has made a mistake.

As doctors we know we are not perfect. We try to practice safe medicine, but we recognise we will not always get it right.

If things are not going right or have not worked out as you expected, then please in the first instance contact the Doctor concerned. We are fairminded people and if a wrong has occurred then we would like the opportunity to put it right.

A lot of health problems require several visits and tests. Medicine is a lot like a game of chess; one move is followed by a response, and then another move. Some clinical problems are easily solved in one visit, others may take many more.

We see from time to time a Patient who has a problem which is not resolved after the first visit. The Patient expects satisfaction and when not cured seeks another practitioner who begins the process again. The Patient may never get past first base, because the expectations of a quick fix are not delivered. If a problem persists or is not satisfactorily resolved, then please let us know so the next step or steps can be taken.

Doctors may also use time as a diagnostic test. At the beginning of a problem where the nature of the problem maybe obscure the Doctor may elect, if they feel it is safe to observe things for a while. Many problems will sort themselves out in time on their own.

Xrays are not always as helpful as you may think. Your Doctor will not order Xrays unless he/she feels it will help you.