10 Questions to Ask at Your Hospital Appointment
In this article, we will describe 10 questions for you to ask at a hospital outpatient appointment.
Before the Appointment – Preparation
- Write down your two or three most important questions
- Medicines and Medical Record. List or bring all of your medicines and pills – including vitamins, supplements and non-prescription medications. Bring a medical record, including all of your previous medical problems and operations. The computers in the NHS are not linked up
- Write down details of your symptoms – including when they started and what makes them better or worse
- Ask the hospital consultant’s secretary for an interpreter or communication support if needed
- Ask a friend or family member to come with you. Two brains will remember more!
Questions to Ask at Your Hospital Appointment
1. What is my diagnosis?
Ask the doctor for the diagnosis (what is wrong with you); and any alternative ones they are considering. Write them all down.
2. What are my treatment options, and what are the potential benefits and risks of each?
A good question in relation to treatment is to turn the question on the doctor, i.e. say ‘would you have this treatment?’. If there is any pause, you need to be sceptical and ask more questions.
3. What medications do I need to take (and what are the potential side effects)?
It is important to be very clear on: a. what new medications (at what dose) you are being asked to take (and for how long); and/or b. changes to current medication. Again, write it down.
4. What can I do to help myself? For example, are there any lifestyle changes I should make to manage my condition?
You may be advised to lose weight, stop smoking, or reduce alcohol consumption – for example. It is important to do what you can to help yourself, not just rely on doctors’ treatments.
5. Are there any tests or procedures that need to be done (and how will that happen)?
You may need blood or urine tests, a scan (e.g. ultrasound, CT or MRI), a procedure (e.g. endoscopy, colonoscopy or cystoscopy) or a biopsy (removing a piece of tissue).
6. How will my condition be monitored (and who will do that)?
- Again, blood or urine tests, or repeat scans, may be required. Ask who is going to organise them, and how?
- Who will check the result and how will you be informed of that?
- Also, ask who to contact if you are not sent an appointment for that test or procedure in good time.
7. Are there any support services or resources available to help me manage my condition?
There may be a national or local charity they can recommend. Some hospital departments have their social worker, dietitian or psychologist – or, if not, the doctor can tell you how to contact one.
8. What is your name?
- This is often the simplest but one of most important questions – and the easiest to forget
- Ask for the name (and rank) of the doctor who is seeing you and how you contact them in the future
- If they are not the consultant (a.k.a. ‘the boss’), ask for the name of the consultant and their secretary’s telephone number and email address. Write it all down.
- If you are concerned regarding the experience of the doctor you are seeing you should ask “How many people with my condition have you treated?” If it less than 100, you should have concerns, and ask them to discuss your case with a more senior doctor.
Top (top) tip. It is often better to wait longer to see the consultant (rather than one of their juniors), and it is your right to ask for this.
9. When is my next appointment (and what happens next)?
Check that you know what should happen next, and when. Write it down. Specify whether you want a face-to-face or virtual (e.g. telephone) appointment.
Top Tip. Ask for the the first or last appointment of the day next time. You are more likely to be seen on time.
10. How do I contact you, if I have questions or concerns (including outside of office hours)?
This is why its important to know the name and contact details of your consultant, and their secretary.
Another good question is “What should I do if my symptoms get worse or don’t improve?”
Bonus Questions
- How can I get a copy of my test results and medical records?
- Are there any new treatments, clinical trials, or emerging research that apply to my condition?
Questions
All questions are good questions.
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.
These questions will help you understand your condition, treatment, and what to expect, enabling you to take a more active role in your care.
Summary
We have described 10 questions for you to ask at a hospital outpatient appointment. The more you prepare, the more you will get out of it.
