Talking to your doctor

It often helps to make a list of the concerns you want to discuss with the doctor. Try to keep them as brief and specific as possible and put the most important questions at the top of the list.

• Think about what you hope to gain from the visit.
• Are there symptoms that you want to discuss?
• Do you think that you need a review of your drugs?
• Include a note of the time and dose of each medication, the length of time it takes for them to become effective, and the results if you have had any change to your medication regime.
• Would you like a referral to a therapist?
• Has anything happened since your last visit that you feel the doctor should know about?

If you have particular problems, think about how to describe them before you see the doctor. Try to be as factual as possible, neither exaggerating nor underplaying the symptoms.

Don't feel you have to talk in medical jargon. Just use the words that you feel comfortable with.

More advice on getting the most out of your visit to the doctor is available in the Talking to your doctor information sheet (PDF, 183KB)