Top tips for getting the most out of your appointment

Before your appointment

• Write down your two or three most important questions.
• Write down details of your symptoms, including when they started and what makes them better or worse.

During your appointment

• Don’t be afraid to ask if you don’t understand. For example, ‘Can you say that again? I still don’t understand.’?
• If you don’t understand any words, ask for them to be explained.
• Write things down or ask a family member or friend to take notes.

Before you leave your appointment

• Check that you’ve covered everything on your list you understand, for example ‘Can I just check I understood what you said?’
• Make sure that you know what should happen next – and when. Write it down.
• Ask who to contact if you have any more problems or questions
• Ask about support groups and where to go for reliable information and ask for copies of letters written about you – you are entitled to see these.
• Keep your notes from the discussion.
•  Book any tests that you can and put the dates in your diary.

Questions that you may find useful during your appointment: