Preparing for your first specialist appointment

A few days before

• Confirm the date, time, and chamber or hospital address, and ask how long the visit usually takes
• Ask whether you need a referral letter or an appointment serial number
• Check the consultation fee and accepted payment methods
• Ask whether you should avoid eating or drinking before the visit (for example, if blood tests are likely)
• Arrange transport and, if helpful, a family member or friend to come with you

Documents to bring

• Photo ID and any health insurance card
• Referral letter from your previous doctor, if you have one
• Previous prescriptions and discharge summaries
• Recent test reports, scans, and X-ray films or CDs, in date order
• A list of all medicines, vitamins, and supplements you currently take, with doses
• A list of any allergies and previous reactions to medicines

Write down beforehand

• Your main concern in one or two sentences
• When the problem started, how often it happens, and what makes it better or worse
• Past illnesses, operations, and hospital stays
• Relevant family health history
• The three questions that matter most to you

Questions you might ask

• What do you think might be causing this, and what are the next steps?
• Do I need any tests? What are they for, and how do I prepare?
• What are my treatment options, including their benefits and risks?
• What warning signs mean I should seek care urgently?
• When should I come back, and how can I contact the chamber with questions?

After the visit

• Make sure you understand any new prescription: name, dose, timing, and duration
• Book follow-up appointments and tests before you leave, if possible
• Keep all new reports and prescriptions together in one folder

My notes