Your Health, Your Conversation

Prepared patient-Strapline (4).png — Your Health, Your Conversation. It's okay to ask. By asking questions about your care you can make sure: Your individual needs are prioritised; you understand the benefits and risks of the different options; you can make a choice that suits you best.

Before your appointment

Many appointments are now being carried out over the telephone or online. If you have any specific needs that mean it will be difficult for you to participate in the type of appointment that you have been offered, please speak to your individual service.

It might be helpful to think about:

What is my main concern?
What do I want to achieve from my appointment?
Why is this important to me?

Don't forget: Make a list of your current medications. Think about whether you want to bring someone with you to your appointment.

During your appointment

By the end of your appointment you should know the answers to these questions:

What are my options?
What are the benefits and risks of each option for me?
What happens next?
Who do I contact if I have questions after I leave?
Where can I go to get more information?

Remember you can always ask the healthcare professional to explain things differently, explain things again, or to write down information for you.

After your appointment

You might want to discuss your options with friends and family.

It's okay to change your mind
It's okay to go back to your healthcare professional to ask more questions

You are the expert on what matters to you.

We want you to know that it is always okay to ask questions of health and care professionals. By asking questions, professionals can understand your needs and priorities. This will help you to work together to make plans that best meet your priorities.

The leaflets below can help you to get ready for your upcoming appointment. It might be helpful to work through it with a friend, family member or carer. We hope that it will help you to be actively involved in decisions about your health and care.

Encouraging you to ask questions is part of the NHS plan to make health and care more personal to you.

Already on a waiting list? Use the form below to help you get prepared.