Support this project

Preparing for a GP appointment

A GP appointment is often just ten minutes, and it’s easy to walk out having said less than half of what you meant to. A little preparation beforehand makes a real difference to what you get from it – here’s how to use the time well.

Getting booked in

Most surgeries offer routine appointments (sometimes a week or more out) and same-day urgent slots for anything that can’t wait. If you’re not sure which you need, say what’s going on when you call – reception staff triage partly on what you tell them, so it’s fine to say plainly that you’re struggling rather than downplaying it to seem like less of a bother.

You don’t need to justify why you’re asking, and you don’t need to already have the right words for it – “I haven’t been feeling like myself” is a complete reason to book an appointment.

Making the most of a short appointment…

  1. Lead with what matters most. If you have several things to raise, say so at the start – “I’ve got two things I want to cover today” – and open with the one you most need help with, in case time runs short.
  2. Be specific about impact, not just feelings. “I’ve not slept properly in three weeks and it’s affecting my work” gives a GP more to act on than “I’ve been stressed.”
  3. Write it down beforehand. A few bullet points on your phone – what’s been happening, since when, what’s changed – stop nerves from wiping the details you meant to mention.
  4. Ask directly for what you want. A referral, a medication review, a fit note, more time – GPs generally can’t guess, and there’s nothing wrong with asking outright.

What they might ask

Questions about how long it’s been going on, whether anything specific triggered it, how it’s affecting sleep, appetite, and day-to-day life, and sometimes a short screening questionnaire are all standard – not a sign of anything being taken more or less seriously than you’d hoped.

Worth knowing

If ten minutes genuinely isn’t enough, you can ask reception for a double appointment when you book – useful if you know you’ve got more than one thing to cover.

You’re also allowed to ask for a specific GP, request a particular gender, or bring someone with you for support – none of that needs a special justification.

If the appointment doesn’t land well – you feel rushed, unheard, or leave without a plan – that’s worth a second attempt, ideally with a different GP if the practice is large enough to offer a choice.

One appointment not going well doesn’t mean the system isn’t going to help you; sometimes it just means that particular conversation didn’t work.

If self-referral suits you better than waiting for a GP appointment, NHS Talking Therapies covers that route instead. And if a referral does come through, Understanding therapy options covers what to expect once you’re offered an approach.