How to get better care from your GP or consultant (5 ways)
In this article we will describe 5 ways to get better care from your GP or consultant.
1. Choose your doctors carefully – you need to trust them to help you (and they need to trust you, e,g. to turn up for follow up and takes your tablets carefully). Ask around. Here are some examples:
- You do not have to register with the nearest GP. Look for smaller more organised practices where you can get continuity. A good website tells you a lot
- You can drive a bit further – to see a better consultant at a better hospital
- You do a lot of research – re choosing restaurants and holidays. Do the same with doctors
- Whoever you choose, continuity is vital – and as important as who it is, i.e. favour continuity (especially to see the same senior doctor or nurse) over reputation of the hospital or unit within a hospital.
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2. Do your homework – when it comes to health conditions and treatment options. Know about your conditions, especially ‘silent’ ones like CKD, diabetes and high blood pressure.
3. Ask about alternatives – ask about different options along with their risks and benefits. Ask about non-drug, non-operation treatment. Time is best healer.
5. Be nice to them – in life, you get more from people if you are nice to them. Compliments and cards are good.
5. Ask yourself regularly (not just on clinic day) – what are you doing to help yourself? Are you a ‘good patient’?
One other things
Consider a second opinion. Ask your GP or consultant to recommend someone else. Or just find someone. Would you take a car back to a mechanic who messed it up last time?
A great GP is hugely important.”
They can navigate your illness rather than just willy-nilly jumping from one specialist to another.
Summary
We have described how to get better care from your GP or consultant (5 ways). We hope it has been helpful.
