http://bmj.com/cgi/content/full/326/7402/1292

BMJ  2003;326:1292 (14 June)
 

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Good patient

Make the most of your doctor

Pamela Prentice, deputy director and campaigns manager

Doctor Patient Partnership, BMA House, London

Be prepared

Your appointment can sometimes be quite short, and it is not always possible to go back and ask questions afterwards. It is important to be prepared and make sure you don't miss anything you would like to ask or find out.

• Make a note of any questions or concerns you might have before your appointment so you can make sure you cover everything you want to
   
• Take a pen and paper, as you might want to note the important points
   
• If you are going for a test where you might need to move or remove your clothes, wear loose clothing to make it easier
   
• If you are taking any non-prescription medicines, including herbal remedies, be prepared to let the doctor know what they are. You may need to tell the doctor if you are taking the contraceptive pill
   
• If you are concerned about not understanding or remembering something from your appointment, you can take someone with you
   

During the appointment

• Don't be afraid to ask questions. Your doctor will be able to help you if you have queries or concerns, such as where to find out more information on a particular condition
   
• If you don't understand what your doctor has told you, ask him or her to repeat it or write it down for you
   
• If you are prescribed a drug make sure you are happy with why it has been prescribed, how it works, and how long you have to take it for. Remember you can ask your pharmacist about medicines; pharmacists are experts in a wide range of prescription and non-prescription drugs
   
• Be direct. You may have a problem that is embarrassing or difficult to talk about, but remember that these problems are probably common to your doctor. He or she will be concerned about helping you, so don't leave it until the end of the appointment to mention it. If it makes it easier, you could write it down.
   

Extract from the Doctor Patient Partnership's (DPP) "Getting the best from your GP surgery" campaign. The campaign aims to encourage patients to feel involved in their health care by holding their own "health records file." The file allows them to keep information about their own health—such as medical cards, notes from appointments, etc, as well as information leaflets given out by a practice or hospital such as the series of DPP leaflets on Getting the best from your GP surgery, Missed appointments, Understanding hospital referrals, and Urgent health care outside surgery hours.

For more information about the DPP campaigns contact Pam Prentice (tel: 020 7383 6144, email: pprentice@bma.org.uk) or Liza da Silva (tel: 020 7383 6824, email: ldsilva@bma.org.uk) or check the DPP website (www.dpp.org.uk).

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© 2003 BMJ Publishing Group Ltd