An expert revealed how to make your voice heard if you’re worried your concerns aren’t being taken seriously by your GP.
An NHS doctor has urged people to ask their GP three specific questions if they feel their medical concerns are being “dismissed”. According to the expert, there are steps we can all take to ensure we feel properly heard.
His advice comes as a 2024 survey of almost 2,000 Brits found that two-fifths of patients said they leave their GP appointment without discussing everything that is worrying them about their health. The poll showed that while 51 percent of people said they were able to talk about “everything” or “most things” they wanted to raise the last time they saw a GP, 40 percent were only able to discuss “some things”, “hardly anything” or “nothing at all”.
Doctor Karan Rajan, who is best known online as Dr Raj, took to social media platform TikTok to explain more. Speaking to his more than five million followers, he said: “If you feel that your doctor ignores your concerns and undermines your symptoms, here is how to advocate for your health.”
This includes asking follow up questions, even if they may feel “awkward”. He continued: “Ask questions, even the awkward ones.
“Doctors are trained to think critically but a lot of the time they’re working on autopilot. Asking questions forces them to slow down and engage with your concerns.”
He shared three questions you could try asking for this purpose:
- What else could this be?
- Are there any tests we haven’t done yet?
- Can you explain why you think this is normal for me?
Alongside asking questions, he shared four other ways to make sure your health issues are taken seriously.
Keep a symptom diary
Dr Raj advocated for keeping track of all the symptoms you experience to then present to your GP. “Keep a detailed record of your symptoms when they occur, how severe they are, what makes them better or worse and how they impact your daily life,” he said.
“Pro tip – use specific language, for example, instead of, ‘I’m tired’ – ‘I feel like I’m being hit by a truck at 2pm every afternoon and it’s making me miss deadlines at work.”
Push for referrals
If you feel like you aren’t getting anywhere you should ask to take it further with a specialist. Dr Raj said: “If your doctor is stumped or worse, dismissive, ask for referral to a specialist.
“Specialists have deeper expertise in specific areas. For example, that muscle pain that won’t go away could be fibromyalgia.
“That horrible period cramp could be endometriosis. Pro tip – frame as curiosity, not confrontation. For example, ‘I feel more comfortable ruling out X. Can we explore it with a specialist?’”
Bring back up
He recommended bringing someone along to your appointments if you don’t feel like you’re being listened to. “Having a trusted friend or family member at your appointment can be a game changer,” Dr Raj said.
“They can take notes as follow-up questions and back you up if you feel dismissed.”
Know your rights
Lastly he advised asking for a second opinion or using patient advocacy groups if needed. Dr Raj added: “In most countries you’re entitled to a second opinion and access to your medical records, use these rights liberally.
“Pro tip – if you’re dealing with a complex or chronic condition, consider consulting patient advocacy groups or online communities for advice.”
