Your GP can help with a huge array of health issues
This includes everything from the routine to the complex at all stages throughout your life.
Some of the areas your GP can help with include:
- Chronic conditions such diabetes and heart conditions
- Child health
- Acute serious illness and trauma such as accidents and injury
- Dermatology disorders that affect the skin, nails and hair
- Drug and alcohol problems
- Eye and ear health
- Musculoskeletal medicine such as back pain, arthritis, osteoarthritis and broken bones
- Occupational medicine
- Testing and follow up treatment for various cancers
- Palliative care
- Pain management
- Sports medicine
- Sexual and reproductive health
- Preventive tests such as pap smears and tests for skin cancer and other cancers
- Nutrition, diet and exercise
- Mental health
- Common colds, flus, infections and viruses
- General health check-ups including testing for diabetes and checking blood pressure and cholesterol
- Referrals to other specialist doctors if required
Your GP wants you to get the most out of your visit to their practice so you leave with all your questions answered. Use the tips below to make your visit a success:
- Make a list of all the things you want to ask your GP about so you don’t forget anything
- Be open and honest. Everything you tell your GP is kept confidential
- Don’t be afraid to ask embarrassing questions, your GP is trained to answer them
- If you’ve done some of your own research on the internet before seeing your GP and you’re worried about what it says, print it off and show your GP
- If you have lots of items you wish to discuss with your GP in one visit, book a longer appointment so neither of you feel rushed
- If your GP isn’t familiar with your medical history, ensure you let them know about any prior illnesses or family history that may be relevant to your visit.