Time To Be Heard

Did you know 75% of initial GP consultations are shorter than 20 minutes. 

In that time they are expected to clearly understand a patient's concerns, assess said concern and take relevant actions to resolve them as well as explaining the cause and treatment options.

Now that's not to say it can't be done in 20 minutes and done efficiently, because it can. 

When I treat friends and family it can take me 10 minutes or less to adequately listen, assess and explain what is going on. 

But in my scenario there are alot of differences. I already know the “patient”. There is a level of trust, authority and rapport made already.

My friends don’t necessarily need to feel listened to or heard; they are just bothered if I can help.

This is how clients or patients differ.

There is typically a level of anxiousness, fear of the unknown associated with seeing a new/different healthcare provider. 

If I think back to meeting my orthodontists for the first time my hands were sweating buckets because I was nervous. 

This may be why the 2nd most common complaint within the NHS is relating to communication (13.5%), only behind the leader being clinical treatment (16.5%). 

Because of that all our initial consultations are 1 hour long. So any new client has ample time and opportunity to explain their specific needs and wants to a level in which both client and clinician are happy. 

As we are acutely aware that being heard and feeling valued are just as important as the “diagnosis” or findings we gather during the objective testing. 

In the defence of our amazing national health service however, if one didn't exist the general public would be far worse with, they don't have the luxury of time and adaptable protocol. 

When you have an entire nation to look after but the same amount of hours in the day as everybody else it's going to be bloody difficult.

But that doesn't mean your health has to suffer for it. 

If you have the means to do so, you can prioritise your own health and seek help and advice from outside the public sector where you receive the level of care and attention you value.