At the GPs is it best to raise every health concern you have, or to just stick to the one reason you gave in the booking?

At my GP I'm told to put only one thing in the form to book appointments, and the meeting is generally guided to be as perfuctory as possible. But tomorrow I'm heading to a walk-in. There's honestly so much wrong with me and I don't think they're touching the surface in the usual appointments, so if i can just kill several birds with one stone it would be nice.

18 points · 9 comments · view on lemmy.world

9 Comments

fakeman_pretendname@feddit.uk · 14 pts · 116d (3 replies)

Some places may allow you to ask for a "double appointment", and even take a pre-written list in (I once had to do this after waiting months for an appointment).

The receptionist will look at you as though you just pulled down your trousers and pants and shat directly on their desk, but they may reluctantly strain themselves to click the box to give you a bit of extra time.

FinjaminPoach@lemmy.world · 6 pts · 116d (2 replies)

That's really helpful, thank you! I'm going to tell this to a friend who has put off GP visits for too long and I'll bear it in mind for the future

fakeman_pretendname@feddit.uk · 3 pts · 116d (1 reply)

Just bear in mind that it's dependent on where you live, and possibly the specific GPs, whether they'll allow this or not.

FinjaminPoach@lemmy.world · 2 pts · 115d

Fair enough, thank you.

Flax_vert@feddit.uk · 6 pts · 116d

No harm in trying. The GP could possibly schedule more appointments for you, bypassing the annoyances of getting through reception

oeuf@slrpnk.net · 4 pts · 115d

Put it this way: if you you don't tell them about your other problems what will happen?

The NHS exists for your health, not for the convenience of receptionists or any other employee, despite how they might try to make you feel otherwise.

This isn't a moral or political point. If you insist on your health issues being addressed they will see to it. You have rights.

The culture of fobbing people off probably does reduce load on the NHS in the short term because it deters timewasters, but it also deters people with genuine problems who are entitled to treatment.

If it makes you feel better about 'being a burden' just remember that you will be more resource-intensive for them to treat the longer your issues are left to worsen.

goodgame@feddit.uk · 4 pts · 115d

If the symptoms are connected, such as sinus infection and bad cough, tell the doctor. If unrelated, such as sinus infection and knee pain, book another appointment.

GiveOver@feddit.uk · 3 pts · 115d (1 reply)

I once brought up an additional concern while I was in the room with the GP. He said "you're not supposed to do two issues in one appointment, but go ahead anyway"

FinjaminPoach@lemmy.world · 1 pts · 115d

He said “you’re not supposed to do two issues in one appointment, but go ahead anyway”

That's crazy. I actually get asked "any other questikns" at the end of every appointment and i always think that's supposed to be an opportunity to talk about other stuff