Getting The Best From Your Doctor

… advice relevant for all people with a skin condition, with thanks to the
Acne Support Group (link) for providing the information … (link ASG site)

GPs are busy people who have to deal with many and varied conditions every day. They are often overworked and often misunderstood. By learning how to get the best from your GP you stand to avoid disappointment. There are positive steps you can take and this fact sheet aims to offer some simple steps to help you.

It must be appreciated that whilst doctors endeavour to do their best for their patient, some factors can contribute towards the patient feeling confused or an ‘inconvenience’ to an already overworked family doctor. The following questions are commonly asked.

Q. WHAT IS THE SECRET OF GETTING THE BEST FROM MY GP?

A. A vital part of getting the best from anybody is communication! This is a crucial, yet often forgotten cause of a breakdown in understanding between doctor and patient. A lack of communication can lead to misdiagnosis or lack of urgent attention. This is especially the case in those people with acne and rosacea, when the emotional and social restrictions are often not recognised by a busy GP.

Q. WHAT SHOULD I TELL MY DOCTOR?

A. GPs are not mind readers! They need to be told certain information about the physical and subsequent emotional aspects of your condition and it may be worth making a note of the following questions so that your condition can be fully assessed to include the emotional and social impact on your life.

1. How long have you had your condition?
2. What treatments have you already tried (over the counter products/ other medication)?
3. Does it worsen at certain times, or as a reaction to stress or cosmetics, etc?

Such points will help the doctor make a swift and accurate diagnosis. It could save time for both parties. Letting your GP know you are taking your condition seriously will certainly indicate that you are expecting a similar reaction from him/ her.

Don’t be afraid to describe a symptom or a concern and don’t feel embarrassed in front of your doctor. They will not feel awkward listening to what causes you to be embarrassed. It is part of everyday work to your doctor.

Don’t expect miracles. Be prepared to pursue different avenues – not every cure comes in pill form! If there are any aspects of your skin condition that you would like to understand more about, then note the questions as you think of them and, if need be, produce your list when you next visit the doctor. You don’t get unless you ask!

Your GP will also need to take into consideration the following points, so be sure to mention these if any directly affect you, your family or your lifestyle:

1. My condition depresses me sometimes/ a lot of the time/ all the time.
2. I don’t socialise because of my skin condition.
3. I avoid school/ college/ work.
4. Nobody appreciates how this condition affects me/ my life/ family/ relationships.

Once you have explained all aspects of your skin condition, hopefully your GP will start you on a course of medication, which will lead you on a path to clearing, or at least controlling your condition. However, there are still some questions you may need to ask to ensure you have realistic expectations:

1. How do I take/apply the prescribed medication?
2. How long will it take before I can expect to notice an improvement?
3. Are there any side effects I should expect?
4. How long will the course of treatment last?
5. How often should I return for follow- ups?
6. If this treatment is not successful, what other treatments can I try?
7. At what stage should I be referred to a dermatologist, if no treatments seem to work?

Remember, taking medication over a long period of time can cause great impatience, especially if you don’t see improvement quickly. Giving up is inevitably easier than persevering, but treating a skin condition can take a long time. You will need to be disciplined with yourself and give yourself the best chance of any medication getting to work on your condition.

If there are any aspects of your medication that you would like to understand more about, then note questions as you think of them and, again, produce your list when you next visit your doctor or dermatologist. Listen to any advice.

Q. WHAT CAN I DO IF I’M DISSATISFIED WITH MY DOCTOR?

A.
If you are unhappy with the way you are being treated by your GP, The Patients Charter (available on request from The Department of Health, Public Enquiry Office, Richmond House, 79 Whitehall, London, SW1A 2NS) states: “You have the right to be referred to a consultant, acceptable to you, when your GP thinks it is necessary and to be referred to a second opinion if you and your GP agree this is desirable. You are also entitled to be given a clear explanation of any treatment proposed, including any risks and alternatives, before you decide whether to agree to the treatment.”

If any of the above is refused and you are unhappy with the reasons, you should consider changing your doctor. You can do this by approaching another medical practice yourself and asking to be put on their books. Explain your reasons for changing doctor. You should not fear upsetting a “Medical Mafia”. Most GPs will be sympathetic as personality clashes do happen in patient-doctor relationships. If you cannot find another GP yourself, your local Family Health Services Committee is obliged to find one for you.

If you want to make a formal complaint against your doctor’s behaviour or treatment you must lodge it in writing within 13 weeks of the incident with your local Family Health Services Committee. Your local Community Health Council will be able to advise you further. This advice is free.

It is always hoped that such drastic action can simply be avoided by ensuring both parties have a clear understanding of one another’s expectations. GPs cannot be expected to know everything about a disease, even on such common conditions such as acne and rosacea, eczema or psoriasis. Likewise, patients should not be expected to be obeying machines without concerns, worries and emotional upsets, so speak up and share your problems with your GP.

You never know, you could be pleasantly surprised!