'I don't want to bother the doctor'

Many people feel that they are causing a fuss and don’t want to waste their doctor’s time. If you are feeling ill it is important to seek medical advice. Remember that your doctor is there to help keep you in good health as well as to cure you. It is better for a health problem to be discovered early by your family doctor, than to end up being rushed to hospital. If you really don’t think that it is necessary to see a doctor, you could ask to see the practice nurse. Or you can first try to get advice over the telephone from a nurse or doctor at your practice, or by calling an information service (see the section ‘Information and advice’). It is important not to ignore your health problem – you should at least speak to someone who can make a professional assessment of whether you need to see a doctor.

'I'm scared that if I go to see my doctor I may find out something is wrong with me'

It is quite common for people to put off going to see their doctor because they are afraid of what they might be told. You should always tell your doctor if you think you have a health problem. Remember that the earlier you tell your doctor that you are worried about your health, the better the chances that any problem can be resolved. The longer you leave it, the more serious and complicated it can get. It could even be that the problem is less serious than you fear, and you will have saved yourself a lot of unnecessary worry.

'I don't like my doctor'

Sometimes people find that they don’t get on well with their doctor. This can make them uncomfortable about making an appointment when they need to. There are several things you can do if you feel like this. If your practice has more than one doctor (most practices do) you could ask to see a different doctor. For many health problems you can also ask to see the practice nurse, rather than your doctor. Another option is for you to change to a different doctors’ practice. There is nothing to stop you changing your doctor, providing you can find another practice in your area that can take you on to its patient list. If you are unhappy with the way you have been treated by your doctor you can make a complaint. See our information sheet 'How to Make a Complaint'.