Before your appointment:
- Write down your two or three most important questions.
- Write down details of your symptoms, including when they started and what makes them better or worse.
- Take a list of all your medications including vitamins and supplements. This can be found on your NHS App, or you can use your medication reordering slip that you receive from the chemist. Medications not available on repeat won’t appear on this list so please make a note of these.
- Ask the hospital for an interpreter or communication support if this is needed.
- It can be very helpful if you take a relative or friend with you including into the meeting with the clinician/doctor.
During your appointment:
- The clinician you see at your appointment should introduce themselves and explain who they are. If they don’t introduce themselves, make sure you ask them and make a note of it for future reference.
- Don’t be afraid to ask if you don’t understand. For example, ‘Can you say that again? I still don’t understand.’
- If you don’t understand any words, ask if they can be explained.
- Write things down or ask a family member or friend to take notes.
- You will be told about any new medications recommended by the specialist, what they are being given for, and any possible side effects. The hospital is responsible for issuing the first supply of medications, which should last until your GP practice is informed of the new medication, and asked to take over prescribing. This will typically be enough supply for around four weeks. Some medications can’t be prescribed by your practice, so please ensure you have enough until your review appointment at the hospital.
Before you leave your appointment:
- Check that you’ve covered everything on your list and that you understand, for example ‘Can I just check I understood what you said?’
- Make sure that you know what should happen next – and when. Write it down. You should not simply be told to contact your GP.
- Make sure you understand about any new medications, what they are for, where you are collecting them from, and how you will obtain further supplies.
- Ask who to contact at the hospital if you have any more problems or questions.
- Ask about support groups: where to go for reliable information, and ask for copies of letters written about you. You are entitled to see these. These will be available to view on your health record via the NHS App once received at your GP practice.
- Keep your notes from the discussion.
- Book any tests that you can, and put the dates in your diary. Ask how the results of the tests will be shared with you and when. The hospital should communicate with you directly. They should not ask you to see your GP practice for the results.
- Ask who you contact at the hospital if you are not sent your appointment details.
Private Hospital and Private Clinic Appointments
The above details apply equally to any private healthcare appointments as well as NHS ones. Please see details about tests and investigations required by private clinics on our website (https://www.drsadeydancy.nhs.uk/private-referrals-tests-and-medications).
You will be responsible for paying for any investigations and medications requested by the private provider. These may not be covered by your insurance policy. If clinically appropriate and when information is received, the practice may be able to take over prescribing these medications if they are for longer term use.
References used in producing this document:
https://www.nhs.uk/nhs-services/gps/what-to-ask-your-doctor/
https://www.nhs.uk/nhs-services/hospitals/going-into-hospital/outpatients-and-day-patients/
Questions that you may find useful during your appointment
Questions about tests:
- What are the tests for?
- How and when will I get the results? Please note that this should not be from your GP.
- Who do I contact at the hospital if I don’t get the results?
Questions about treatment:
- Are there other ways to treat my condition?
- What do you recommend?
- Are there any side effects or risks?
- How will I know if the treatment is working?
- How effective is this treatment?
- What will happen if I don’t have any treatment?
- Is there anything I can do to help myself?
What next:
- What happens next? This should not simply be contacting your GP. The hospital should be organising your next steps.
- Do I need to come back and see you?
- Who do I contact at the hospital if things get worse?
- Do you have any written information?
- Where can I go for more information other than my GP?
- Is there a support group or any other source of help?