Appointment preparation

Preparing for an appointment

The commonest patient question, and one that is safe to answer when the preparation is written down.

Answer from the written instruction only

Every procedure that requires preparation has an instruction sheet. Read it and relay it. Give:

• What to bring — documents, referral, previous results, a list of medications.
• What to stop, and how long before. Relay verbatim.
• Fasting, if any: from what time, and whether water is allowed.
• Whether they need somebody to take them home.
• What to wear or remove.

The one thing to add unprompted

Whether they can drive afterwards. People plan around it and rarely ask.

Hand over

Any question about whether their medication counts as one to stop. That is specific to their prescription and belongs with a clinician, however clearly the sheet appears to answer it.

Never

Say a preparation step can be skipped, or estimate how long a procedure will take from experience rather than the sheet.