We’ve all been there: sitting in the waiting room, hoping to get the help we need, only to leave the doctor’s surgery feeling frustrated, unheard, or just plain annoyed.
While most GPs are doing their best, some of the bad habits many of them have can turn an appointment into an ordeal. Here are just a few of the things they do that can make patients dread going in for help — when you can actually get in to see one face-to-face, that is!
1. Rushing through the appointment
Nothing says “uncomfortable” like feeling your GP has one eye on the clock and one foot out the door. When you’ve waited weeks for an appointment, a 5-minute sprint through your symptoms can feel dismissive. Patients want to feel like their concerns matter, not like they’re on a medical assembly line.
2. Interrupting before you finish explaining
It takes courage to explain your symptoms and how you’re feeling. But some doctors have a habit of jumping in before you’ve even finished your first sentence. It’s like they’ve decided what’s wrong before they’ve heard the full story. A little patience and listening go a long way.
3. Using too much medical jargon
Sometimes it feels like GPs forget that not everyone has a medical degree. Phrases like “idiopathic neuropathy” or “benign paroxysmal positional vertigo” can leave patients more confused than when they walked in. Plain language helps patients feel informed, not baffled.
4. Dismissing your symptoms as “just stress”
When you’ve finally worked up the nerve to explain how unwell you feel, hearing, “It’s probably just stress” can be incredibly disheartening. While stress plays a role in health, dismissing everything under this umbrella can leave patients feeling invalidated. Sometimes, we just want to know our symptoms are being taken seriously.
5. Not making eye contact
There’s nothing worse than explaining your symptoms to the top of someone’s head because they’re glued to their computer screen. A little eye contact makes patients feel seen and heard. It’s a small gesture, but it makes a big difference in building trust.
6. Being dismissive of mental health issues
Opening up about anxiety, depression, or any mental health struggle is tough. When GPs brush off these concerns with a “You’ll be fine” or “Try to think positively,” it can make patients feel misunderstood. Acknowledging mental health is as important as physical health—sometimes even more so.
7. Not explaining the treatment plan
Leaving the office with a prescription but no idea what it’s for can be stressful. Patients want to understand their treatment, how it works, and why it’s the best option. When GPs hand out advice or meds without explaining, it can feel like being left in the dark.
8. Making you feel guilty for coming in
“You should have come sooner,” or “This isn’t serious enough for an appointment”—nothing makes a patient feel worse than hearing this. Most people already hesitate to see a doctor. Guilt-tripping them for seeking help only adds another layer of anxiety to the whole process.
9. Dismissing “small” symptoms that feel big to you
What seems minor to a GP might be life-disrupting for you. Saying, “It’s nothing to worry about” without further discussion can make patients feel dismissed. Sometimes, those little symptoms are part of a bigger picture, and brushing them off can lead to missed diagnoses or ongoing worry.
10. Not following up on test results
Waiting for test results is stressful enough without having to chase your GP for answers. When they say, “We’ll call you if there’s an issue,” and then you hear nothing, it leaves patients in limbo. A simple follow-up call, even if everything is fine, can give much-needed peace of mind.
11. Making you feel like a hypochondriac
It’s hard enough dealing with unexplained symptoms, but when your doctor hints that you’re being dramatic or “Googling too much,” it stings. Patients don’t want to feel like a nuisance. Validating concerns rather than brushing them off builds trust and confidence in the healthcare process.
12. Not giving you enough time to ask questions
Asking questions during an appointment can feel like a race against the clock. When GPs rush through their explanations and then ask, “Any questions?” as they’re halfway out the door, it leaves patients feeling confused. We just want a moment to clarify things without feeling like we’re holding up the queue.
13. Ignoring lifestyle factors
Sometimes, the answer isn’t just medication. Patients appreciate when doctors consider lifestyle factors like diet, sleep, and stress. Ignoring these aspects can feel like a missed opportunity to address the root cause of a problem. A more holistic approach can make a huge difference.
14. Forgetting personal details
When a GP asks, “So, what do you do for work?” for the fifth time, it can feel a bit impersonal. While we don’t expect them to remember everything, a little effort goes a long way. Remembering key details makes patients feel like more than just a name on a chart.
15. Brushing off your pain
Pain is subjective, but it’s real. When you’re explaining your pain and a doctor says, “It can’t be that bad” or “You’ll just have to live with it,” it feels dismissive and demoralising. Taking pain seriously and offering real solutions shows patients that their suffering matters.
