I’m a clinical negligence lawyer – how to feel more confident in raising your concerns with doctors

Before your appointment

• Ask your GP or hospital to contact you in a way that is easiest for you to understand – if you have a disability or English is not your first language, you can ask that accommodations are made. You may also wish to be contacted by text or email instead of by post
• Do you want to be seen by a particular healthcare professional, or if you are a woman, would you prefer to be seen by a female member of staff? You can also request a chaperone if necessary
• Make sure you adhere to the healthcare provider’s policy around multiple health concerns – if there is more than one thing you wish to raise, discuss with staff and consider making a double appointment
• Think about any questions you want to ask in your appointment, writing them down can be helpful. This is your opportunity to have your concerns answered

During your appointment

• Be sure to raise everything on your list – it’s important to ask the questions that are important to you
• Make notes if you would like to, this can help you remember what has been said
• Don’t be afraid to ask the medical professional to explain anything again or in a different way if you don’t understand
• You are entitled to raise any concerns over what the medical professional tells you – if something doesn’t feel right, you know your body and your health best
• Ask for a second opinion or to see another professional if you are unhappy
• You can ask to see your medical records if you wish to – this can help you ensure all details are correct, such as your medication and treatment history, as well as next of kin and contact details
• If a follow-up or referral is required, ask what the next steps will be and who you should expect to hear from

After your appointment

• Look through the notes you have made – if you need any clarity, contact the GP practice or hospital
• If there is anything you need by ask by way of follow up questions, or anything you forgot, ask for someone to come back to you
• Be clear on next steps and who will be in touch – if you have any doubt or uncertainty, contact the surgery or hospital
• If you have concerns over what you have been told or prescribed, don’t be afraid to make another appointment

If you were not happy with the outcome of your appointment, consider next steps – do you want to raise any concerns with the surgery or hospital? If your concerns are serious enough, consider contacting a body such as Healthwatch or an independent NHS complaints advocacy organisation.

Learn more about how you can advocate for yourself

Feeling confident in situations such as medical appointments comes with empowerment, and knowing what you want from your meeting with healthcare professionals – as well as how to raise concerns. Our self-advocacy website can support you in learning more about your rights as a patient and how to get support. You can also access our self-advocacy toolkit here.

If you feel you have experienced poor standards of care which has led to consequences for you and your family, our medical negligence specialists can help. Call us today on 0330 041 5869 or contact us online.