Questions to ask a doctor in hospital
Here are 5 questions to ask a doctor in hospital. Remember, all questions are good questions [“thanks for that” CKDEd].
1. Who is the hospital consultant in charge of my care?
You will be cared for by a team of hospital doctors and nurses, not your GP. The most senior doctor in the team is called a consultant. He/she has overall responsibility for your care. It’s important you know his/her name (keep a diary and write it down). They will be assisted by a deputy called a registrar, and junior doctors.
The consultant may not visit you every day. But you should see them at least once. If you want to speak to them, ask the nurses or ward clerk to arrange that. Don’t hold back. It is your right to do so,
Linked question – How do I contact my consultant after I leave hospital?
This is a key question too. Ask the ward clerk for their secretary’s telephone number and email address.
2. How long am I being admitted for (estimated discharge date)?
The average length of stay in hospital is 6-7 days. Ask for an estimated date of discharge to work towards. Of course, we will try to make the stay as short as possible – partly, to be frank, because we will need the bed for someone else. There are some patients with less serious problems, who stay 1-2 days. There is usually a ‘short stay’ ward especially for such a problem.
Other linked questions
It is a good idea to ask the doctors and nurses at the start of your admission two things:
- What type of ward am I on? I.e. is the right type of ward for your problem?
- How long they predict your stay will be. Then you can do what you can to make that happen.
3. What is my diagnosis?
The diagnosis is what is wrong with you, i.e. why you are in hospital. On their daily ward round, the doctors should explain this, so you understand it and treatment plan. Write both diagnosis and treatment plan down. It may change. Never feel shy to ask the doctor to repeat the explanation.
If you still do not understand, ask the nurses to get the doctors back in the afternoon – to explain things again, and slowly. You can ask for a family member to be there, for another pair of ears. When a diagnosis is not made right away, repeat the question every day.
4. What is going to happen today?
Knowing what is going on makes you feel more involved in your care. Ask this question each day. Keeping a diary is helpful. If there is nothing happening that is a concern, as it will be a wasted day. Ask if you can do anything to make something happen today.
5. When am I going home?
As soon as you are admitted, the doctors should estimate your discharge date. But they often do not. This is a shame, as having a goal for everyone is important. Do ask for one when you are admitted and write it down. Then you can make sure all are working towards it. The discharge date may be changed depending on how you respond to treatment.
Other questions
I don’t like the current plan. Can I choose another?
Your doctor has an ethical and legal duty to explain other options and potential results. Again, including a family member and keeping notes may help you understand what has been said. All patients have clear rights when it comes to their care.
Can I have a second opinion?
Yes. And you should, especially if you have lost confidence in the current team, consultant and/or ward. Tell the nurses about your concerns, and they can get a manager to come and see you. They can find you another consultant and/or ward. If you are still not happy, ask to see someone from the PALS department. It is there job to be your advocate.
Linked question – Can I refuse a test or a doctor to see me?
Yes. A patient may decline any test, operation or procedure – because of unclear information, or any reason. A conversation with the doctors is helpful, knowing you can still decline.
What are the changes in medication I have to know about on discharge?
Medication changes often cause the greatest confusion, which is why keeping a diary is helpful. It’s important to understand the final choices. They will be given to you in writing when you’re discharged (in the discharge summary, see below), and the list will be sent to your GP.
How will be my GP be informed?
This is an area where you can really help. You should be given a paper copy of a ‘discharge summary’. If not, ask for one. This describes your admission, diagnosis, treatment and tablets to go home on (called ‘TTOs’). It should have the name of your consultant on it. Do not leave without this information. It is usually emailed to your GP, but that does not mean they read it, or act on it – if it has something for them to do.
For this (and several other) reasons, it is a good idea to arrange to see your GP two weeks after the admission. This is to make sure they are aware of the admission, and follow up anything they have been asked to do.
What should I look out for after being discharged?
You may be given printed information about what to look out for. If not, ask for a patient information leaflet, if there is one for your condition. Whether there is or is not, ask to sit down with a doctor for ten minutes before you go home, to ask this question. Take some notes.
Linked question – will I be followed up by you and your team? And if so, how, when and where?’
Write that down too. If they say ‘you will be sent an outpatient appointment’, ask them ‘how do I chase that, if it does not happen, or it’s not soon enough’?
Summary
We have described questions to ask a doctor in hospital. We hope it has been helpful.
Other resource
This is a good Australian video on what happens during an admission – with some top tips on how you can help.
