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In ‘Tips to help your GP’, the focus is on helping the patient to help the GP.1 Although this is obviously important, the patient is the person who should come first. Being a GP must be incredibly stressful. Undoubtedly there are things that patients do that make the job harder. But patients are often nervous, may have had bad experiences, and may be very poorly. I think it is important to be as positive and helpful as possible, rather than giving them reasons to feel worse.
Your poster has no introduction and seems critical towards the patient reading it. Parts feel very patronising, such as the points that focus on ‘behaviour and attitude’ in the consultation, telling people to cover their mouths when coughing, to ‘dress appropriately’, and to make sure they have washed. Many patients would love your suggestion about continuity of care, but then they would often be unable to see someone for several weeks. Booking with the ‘correct professional’ is ideal but it is not always obvious who this is.
It would be more helpful and positive to have ‘Tips to help your GP help you’ and to help the patient ask appropriate questions such as those suggested here: https://www.nhs.uk/nhsengland/aboutnhsservices/doctors/pages/questions-to-ask-the-doctor.aspx.
I wonder if you asked patients about what would help them during a consultation? Health care should be a partnership, with GPs who are the experts by training, working together with patients, who are the experts by experience.
- © British Journal of General Practice 2018
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