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“What the fudge??” might be your first reaction to that heading, closely followed by: “Being a good patient? How about you just do your job and get on with the doctoring?”
Fair enough — we hear you.
But as one half of the doctor–patient relationship, there’s actually a lot you can do to get more out of your appointment (and yes, even make your GP’s day a little better).
Here are six simple tips. Take them on board, and you’ll leave with the best possible treatment plan and the quiet satisfaction of knowing you helped us help you.
1. Fess Up, Buddy
Smoke a packet a day? Tell us.
Stopped taking your prescribed medication? Let us know why.
Occasionally use recreational drugs? Are you being safe?
What you tell us is held in the strictest confidence.
The more honest you are, the better we can work out the right path forward — which is why you’re here in the first place. Omitting key details limits our ability to provide you with the best possible care.
And for the record: we don’t believe you “fell on your face wash bottle in the shower”. But we also don’t care how it happened. Our job is to help you, not judge you.
We’ve seen it all. Truly. Absolutely nothing shocks us.
So answer our questions honestly, walk out feeling proud you contributed to your diagnosis, and maybe even enjoy the relief of getting a few things off your chest.
2. OMG, What Is She Wearing?
It might sound silly, but what you wear to your appointment actually matters.
Thankfully, the days of dressing up to see the doctor are long gone.
Wear whatever you’re most comfortable in. If you’re feeling bloated, hot, cold, sore, or generally miserable, dress accordingly. There’s no fashion police here.
And a special note for the blokes: if you’re wearing shorts, please wear undies. It can be quite confronting to come face-to-face with your todger while we’re examining a dodgy knee.
3. Don’t Believe Everything You Read Online
Ah, yes, Dr Google. The least qualified yet most frequently consulted doctor of them all.
Googling your symptoms usually ends one of two ways:
- You’re absolutely fine, or
- You’re definitely dying.
Neither is particularly helpful.
The same goes for scary headlines and social media horror stories. People tend to share their medical experiences online only when things go badly, which paints a wildly unbalanced picture.
Our appointment time is much better spent discussing your symptoms and medical history, not undoing internet misinformation, one myth at a time.
In a nutshell: If the health info you read online is too good or too bad to be true, it probably is.
4. Excrement Is Best Left at Home
We appreciate the enthusiasm, but please leave the jam jar of poo, pee, or pus at home.
We believe you when you describe the smell, colour, texture, or wriggling situation. Proof is not required.
If we need a sample, we’ll give you a sterile container and send it off to pathology, where people who genuinely love analysing bodily fluids can do their thing.
Your jam jars deserve better.
5. It Takes More Muscles to Frown Than Smile
When you feel rubbish, being cheerful can feel impossible. We get that. But being kind to reception staff and GPs genuinely makes a difference.
Our reception team is an experienced, unflappable team of legends who juggle phones, bookings, and questions all at once to keep everything running smoothly.
If your doctor is running late, it’s usually because:
- patients arriving late, or
- patients booking short appointments for very long lists of problems.
What’s not happening is doctors playing computer solitaire in the back, in between patients.
6. Be Your Own Doctor
Taking an interest in your health is one of the best things you can do. Knowing your medical history, medications, and past issues helps us help you.
And yes, it does make you our new favourite patient.
We’re doctors, not mind readers. Your insight into what feels normal, what’s changed, and what might be relevant is incredibly valuable.
No need to enrol in medical school or memorise anatomy diagrams. Just stay curious, listen to your body, and be involved in your care.
Final Thoughts
As GPs, we take the responsibility of caring for people seriously. Sleepless nights happen — replaying tricky cases, second-guessing decisions, and thinking through every possible angle.
By keeping these six tips in mind, you’ll get more from your next appointment, and we’ll be able to do our best work for you.
Team effort. Everyone wins.
Bonus tip: PLEASE STOP PICKING
We cannot diagnose your mole, pimple, or potential skin cancer if you’ve attacked it with your fingernail or pocketknife.
We know it’s tempting.
Just… don’t.
Dr Elaine Sung is a renowned local GP and owner of Doctors of South Melbourne. She’s not currently seeing new patients.
However, you can make an appointment online with most other doctors practising at the clinic. Alternatively, call us on 8579 6838.
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