Getting the most out of the practice
Patient Patients
Thank you to all those of you who understand that it is necessary to be patient when attending or telephoning the surgery. The vast majority of our patients are polite and understanding, and realise that sometimes we cannot help over-running, long waiting times or changing things. Do you realise that the word patient comes from the word patience?
How to get the best from your consultation
Each consultation is only usually allotted a 10 minute time slot. In this time the clinician not only has to greet you, assess your previous history, discuss your problem, examine you and make a diagnosis, he also has to issue prescriptions, and enter details on the computer. Therefore it is easy for the doctor to overrun if you have several matters to discuss, your problem is a tricky one, or you have tried to fit in another matter like a form to fill in during the consultation. It helps to bear this all in mind when you come to be seen, and if you prepare beforehand it will make your consultation even more successful.
Tips to try:
- First of all – do you really need to be seen, or will a conversation with the nurse or doctor be sufficient?
- Have you tried home remedies, asked your pharmacist for advice, waited a few days to see if it gets better of its own accord?
- Can your condition be improved by a visit to the doctor – some illnesses we can do nothing for except offer simple advice – e.g. chickenpox and colds, as there is no medication for them and they are usually self-limiting. Having a check ‘just in case’ is usually a waste of time.
- If you are being seen, assess your complaint carefully so you are prepared to answer the clinician’s questions. Common questions include – how long, how severe, whereabouts, any other symptoms, any changes to your diet, lifestyle, medications, previous history, what you have tried.
- Try not to come in for several problems – saving them up for one consultation doesn’t usually help the doctor, it just makes him run late. If you feel you have to be seen for several things, or you might need a long time to discuss things, please mention this when you book the appointment so that an extra slot can be allocated to you.
- Think what you want from the appointment – advice, reassurance, a prescription, therapy etc. Remember that a prescription is not always necessary or indicated – the clinician will give you the appropriate treatment.
- If your appointment is a follow up it makes sense to try to see the same clinician, but if you have a new complaint then you should be prepared to be asked to see any suitable clinician.
- Do not expect the doctor to fill in any forms, reports, passport signing etc, during a consultation – these things need to be left at reception and collected another day, and there will probably be a fee.
Home Visits
The doctor’s time is very limited, visits take much longer than a surgery consultation and they often take place in the small gap between two surgery sessions which will often encroach on the doctor’s lunchtime – if he gets one. Therefore we only visit patients who are genuinely housebound or have a specific medical need that merits one. Facilities at the surgery are more appropriate for treatment than your home, and coming out to the surgery will not usually have a bad effect on your illness. Remember, having difficulties with transport does not entitle you to a home visit. For help on how to reach us please look at the 'find us' pages for the relevant site here
Disclaimer: The Meadowfields Practice accepts no responsibility for the accuracy of any information given on this site.