Talking to Doctors

Advocate:

To speak up for yourself, to communicate your reality

Below is a step-by-step guide on how to advocate for yourself or a family member in medical appointments:

1. Go to appointments prepared – set aside 10 minutes to really think about what your symptoms are, how they impact you, and what you would like out of the appointment. Take in notes – or use our simple Appointment Planner to prepare beforehand.
2. Track any symptoms – over a period of weeks, for each symptom, note the severity (pain level), the frequency (hourly, daily, weekly) and the impact on your life (does it impact on or stop you doing your normal routine).
3. Record the appointment – use a phone recorder, this will help you remember all details, next steps and create a record so you can share it with family members or carers. As a UK patient using the NHS, you are legally permitted and entitled to record your own appointments. Note: it is more respectful and recommended to notify the healthcare professional before recording.
4. Use the Appointment planner to guide the conversation during your appointment.
5. Offer context to the symptoms – describe how they impact your life, how long it has been impacting you, any family history, and medicines you are currently taking.
6. Draw the attention of the Doctor or provider to any changes since your last appointment.
7. Avoid playing down your problems – be honest about the severity and frequency.
8. Don’t feel listened to?: Try again to present the evidence that you have from tracking your symptoms. Physically show it to the provider and go symptom by symptom. This can be made more detailed evidence by adding numbers – dates, times, and ranking the pain of the symptom from 1-10. This ‘quantitative evidence’ – using numbers – builds a more detailed picture.
9. Do not leave the room or call without understanding your next steps. Ask if you need to arrange follow-up appointments and are there any other symptoms you should watch for. What should I do if it gets worse?
10. Create a checklist of any actions you need to do following the appointment
11. Note the names of the key professionals involved in your care
12. Establish a main contact: what is their email address or phone number?
13. If you feel ‘fobbed off’, ask the medical professional: what is the worst thing this could be?
14. Ask for a Second Opinion: it is your right as a patient to access a second opinion. If your request is refused ,politely ask the professional to explain why it has been refused, and request that they add their second opinion refusal and their explanation why to your official medical notes. If you still cannot access a second opinion, you could approach another doctor, or management to escalate it. If you are concerned enough to ask for a second opinion, it is worth persisting. Don’t wait for the system to do it slowly.
15. Golden Rule: if you know something is true for you, persist. Doctors are medical experts but you know your body. If you know something is not right: persist, persist, persist.