10 ways to get your GP to listen to you

DR RAJ PERSAUD, Harley Street consultant psychiatrist and author of The Mental Vaccine for Covid-19, gives his tips on how to be a savvy patient

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JESSICA Brady, who died from cancer aged 27 after an army of GPs failed to make the correct diagnosis, has inspired the new Jess's Rule. It encourages GPs to rethink a diagnosis if a patient presents three times with the same symptoms or concerns. Jessica had more than 20 GP appointments in the six months before her death. Although it's hoped the new guidance will save lives, for many patients, it still takes countless appointments in an overstretched system before cancer is diagnosed. Jessica's cancer was finally diagnosed when her family turned to the private sector. Tragically, it was too late and she died three weeks later. But what if you can't afford private healthcare?

I worked in the NHS for decades and now, in private practice, almost everyone I see has had similar frustrating experiences. Once you understand the hidden rules that govern doctors, you can influence the outcome of the clinical meeting more than you think. Here are my tips on how to get more from a consultation...