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Interactive tool

Questions to take to your GP

Pick the kind of appointment, then print or copy the list. These are prompts, not a script. For the full preparation guide see preparing for a GP appointment.

What is the appointment about?

New or changing symptom

  1. What is the most likely cause, and what else could it be?
  2. What should I watch for that means I need help sooner?
  3. Do I need a test now, later, or only if this does not settle?
  4. What can I do at home in the next 1 to 2 weeks?
  5. When and how will I hear the plan if I am not better?

Child who is unwell

  1. What would make you send us to 111 or 999 from here?
  2. How should I use pain or fever relief for this child — and what must I not do?
  3. When can they go back to school or nursery?
  4. What fluids and food are reasonable while they are unwell?
  5. Do we need a follow-up, and how do I get it if they worsen tonight?

Mental health

  1. Is this something you would treat in the practice, or refer?
  2. What help can I start while I wait — including NHS talking therapies?
  3. If you suggest a medicine, what should I expect in the first 2 weeks?
  4. What should someone with me know if I become more unwell?
  5. When should I use 111, Samaritans, or emergency care?

Long-term condition review

  1. Are my latest results in a range you are happy with for me?
  2. Should any medicine, dose or inhaler change?
  3. What symptoms mean I should not wait for the next review?
  4. What can I do between appointments that actually changes risk?
  5. Do I still need this referral, test or follow-up on the list?

Test results

  1. What does this result mean in plain English?
  2. Does it change the diagnosis, or only the next step?
  3. Do I need another test, and what happens if I do nothing?
  4. Who looks at the next result, and by when?
  5. Should I change any medicine before that date?

Medication review

  1. What is this medicine for, in one sentence?
  2. What are the common effects I might notice, and which are urgent?
  3. How long should I take it before we decide it is helping?
  4. Does it clash with anything else I take, including pharmacy and herbal products?
  5. What should I do if I miss a dose?

Waiting for a referral

  1. What is the referral for, and how urgent did you mark it?
  2. Who do I contact if I get worse while I wait?
  3. What can we do in primary care in the meantime?
  4. How will I know the hospital has received it?
  5. If I have not heard by a certain date, who should I chase?
Open the checklist

Common questions

Will the GP have time for all of these?
Probably not. Circle the two or three that matter most and say them at the start. The rest can wait for a follow-up or a pharmacist.
Is this a diagnosis tool?
No. It only helps you use a short appointment well. It cannot tell you what is wrong or whether you need 999.
Can I use this for a hospital clinic too?
Yes. The same questions work for many outpatient appointments. Take your medicine list and a short timeline.