Getting heard at the GP: how to prepare and what to ask

SASian Anderson, Writer and editor, MyGLP. Sources checked 5 November 2026.

Why preparation changes the appointment

Before it wrote the 2022 Women's Health Strategy for England, the government asked women about their healthcare. Of the 97,307 responses from England, 84% said there had been times when they, or the woman they had in mind, were not listened to by healthcare professionals. Fewer than two thirds felt comfortable talking about the menopause.

A renewed strategy followed in April 2026, built around women having "voice, choice and power" in their care. Policy moves slowly. A typical GP slot is short, and the clearer your account, the more of those minutes go on solving the problem. This is about evidence and systems catching up, and about you arriving with your own evidence.

Keep a symptom diary for two to eight weeks

Memory flattens symptoms. A diary turns "I've been tired for ages" into a pattern a clinician can act on. Write a line a day, on paper or in your phone notes.

• The date and, if you have periods, the day of your cycle.
• What the symptom was and a score from 0 to 10.
• How long it lasted and what you were doing when it started.
• What you missed because of it: work, sleep, exercise, plans.
• Anything you tried and whether it helped.
• Any medicine changes, including a new dose of a weight loss jab.

The "what you missed" line matters most. "Pain 7 out of 10, left work early three times this month" tells a GP far more than "bad cramps".

Book the right appointment

If you have several problems, ask the receptionist for a double appointment, or book two. Many practices let you add a short reason on the online form. Write the main symptom and how long you have had it, for example "pelvic pain for 6 months, getting worse". If a face to face examination is likely, say so at booking.

You can also ask to see a particular GP, or one with an interest in women's health. The NHS Constitution gives you the right to choose your GP practice, and many practices will try to match a named clinician if you ask early.

In the room: lead with the main problem

1. Open with one sentence: the symptom, how long, and how it affects your life.
2. Hand over or read from the diary.
3. Say what you are worried it might be, even if you feel silly. Saying the worry out loud helps the GP rule the possibility in or out.
4. Ask the questions below before the end, not at the door.

Four questions worth asking

• What else could this be, and how will we rule those out?
• Which tests would help, and when will I get the results?
• If this does not improve, what is the next step?
• What symptoms mean I should come back sooner or call 111?

The last question is called safety-netting. It gives you a clear point at which to return without wondering whether you are making a fuss. If a test or referral is declined, you can ask for the reason to be written in your notes. The NHS Constitution gives you the right to see your own health records and to have factual mistakes corrected, and many people can read their GP record in the NHS App.

Bringing someone, and chaperones

You can bring a partner, friend or relative. A second person can take notes and remember what was said. For an intimate examination of the breasts, genitals or bottom, you can ask for a chaperone, a trained member of staff who stays in the room. You can request one when you book, and you can have a chaperone and your own companion at the same time. You can also accept or refuse any treatment offered, which the NHS Constitution sets out as a right.

Your rights under the NHS Constitution

Asking for a second opinion

You do not have a legal right to a second opinion, but the NHS says a professional will rarely refuse to refer you for one. You can ask to see another GP at your practice, ask for a referral to a different practice, or, if a consultant is involved, go back to your GP for a new referral. A second opinion can mean a longer wait, so ask whether a delay carries any risk.

Care outside the GP surgery

In England, the Pharmacy First service lets a pharmacist assess and treat seven conditions, with prescription medicines where needed, and no GP appointment.

Women's health hubs are the other change. NHS England asked every integrated care board to set one up. The core specification covers heavy, painful or irregular periods, menopause, contraception, coil fitting and removal, breast pain, pessaries and cervical screening. Some hubs are a building and some are virtual clinics. Your GP remains the first point of contact, so ask the practice whether a hub runs locally.

If you still feel unheard

Book a follow-up and bring the updated diary. Say plainly: "This is my third appointment for this and it is getting worse. I would like it investigated." For a condition with a long average delay to diagnosis, such as endometriosis, our endometriosis guide sets out what to ask for. If weight has become the only topic, the weight stigma guide has wording to bring the focus back to your symptom.

Sources

1. Results of the Women's Health: Let's talk about it survey (Department of Health and Social Care)
2. Women's Health Strategy for England (2022) (Department of Health and Social Care)
3. Renewed Women's Health Strategy for England (2026) (Department of Health and Social Care)
4. The NHS Constitution for England (Department of Health and Social Care)
5. Chaperoning (University Hospitals of North Midlands NHS Trust)
6. Second opinion (NHS 111 Wales)
7. Pharmacy First (NHS Black Country Integrated Care Board)
8. Women's health hubs: core specification (Department of Health and Social Care)