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Making the Most of your GP
12 Practical Ways to Make the Most of Your GP
1) Know how to find your GP.
You must register with a local
GP – one in your catchment
area. To find a local GP visit
NHS Choices at www.nhs.
co.uk and search for a GP
by your postcode - you
should have a choice of two
or three. Or you can ask
your HIV clinic to help you
find one.
2) Ask about out of hours
appointments. If you work
full time, find out if your
GP practice opens evenings
or on Saturdays and book
appointments to suit you.
3) Ask to see the same GP
every time if you want.
Although you may need
to wait a bit longer, if
there is a GP you feel
more comfortable with in
your surgery you can ask
to see them for all your
appointments.
4) Plan what you want to say
to your GP. Take time to
think about what you want
to know before you go and
write it down. Remember
that often a consultation
lasts less than 10 minutes.
5) Disclose your HIV status to
your GP. A GP is a doctor,
and will be better able to
look after your health if he
or she knows all the facts.
This includes your HIV status.
If you don’t disclose there
is a risk a GP may prescribe
a medication that could
interact badly with your HIV
treatments or vice versa.
Remember GPs and practice
staff, including receptionists
and practice nurses, are
bound by a confidentiality
agreement; they cannot
disclose your HIV status.
Telling a GP can seem like a
big step; if you need to, talk it
over with someone first, call
a friend, support worker, or a
peer mentor at Positively UK.
6) Know your CD4 count and
viral load. Keep a note
book where you write down
all your counts and other
medical information.
7) Know the names of the
medications you are
taking. This includes not
only your HIV medications,
but anything else you may
be taking for other health
problems. You can also write
this list in your note book.
8) Talk to your GP and
explain your situation. If
a GP is going to look after
your health effectively, they
need to know a bit about
you. Don’t get annoyed
if they ask questions that
you’ve told a previous GP,
especially if it’s a GP you
haven’t seen before.
9) Be ready to ask questions.
If something is unclear,
you don’t understand or
when you are unsure ask
for clarification. Don’t hold
back – it’s your health. Get
the information you need.
10) Write down what your
GP tells you. Your GP may
suggest things you need to
do or refer you to other
agencies. If you write things
down you will remember
later which will help you to
take any action necessary
and pass on relevant
information to your HIV
clinician.
11) Get answers if a General
Practice refuses to register
you. If you are denied
registration, always ask to
know the reason why, this
will not only give you an
explanation, but it will also
help you if you need to
take any further action. A
GP in your catchment area cannot refuse to take you
onto their register. If they
do you should contact
your local PALS www.pals.
nhs.uk or Positively UK on
0207 713 0444 who will
help take your complaint
forward.
12) If you are not happy with
your current GP you can
make a complaint and/or
change. If you need support
to make a complaint you
can do it with the support
of your local PALS (Patients,
Advice and Liaison Service)
www.pals.nhs.uk
or call Positively UK on
0207 713 0444.
This guide is available as a handy guide, it's free to organisations that support people living with HIV. To request copies call 020 7713 0444.