Doctors deal with a lot, especially those who work for the NHS — long hours, endless paperwork, and patients who don’t always make their job easy, just to name a few.
While they try to stay professional, there are certain things they hear on a daily basis that instantly test their patience. You might think you’re just making conversation, but behind their polite smile, they’re probably biting their tongue. If you’ve ever said one of these, chances are, you’ve unknowingly irritated your GP before they’ve even had a chance to check your pulse.
1. “I Googled my symptoms, and I think I know what’s wrong.”
Most GPs like it when patients are informed, but leading with “I Googled it” is like telling a chef you watched a YouTube video on cooking, and now you’re an expert. The internet is full of terrifying worst-case scenarios, and chances are, you’ve diagnosed yourself with something rare and fatal. While researching symptoms isn’t a bad thing, coming in convinced you already know better than a medical professional is a guaranteed way to annoy them. They spent years training for this — you spent 20 minutes on a forum.
2. “I just need a quick prescription.”
Nothing makes a doctor’s eye twitch faster than a patient assuming their job is just to hand out meds. You might think it’s a simple request, but they still need to assess you properly. Medicine isn’t like ordering fast food; you don’t just walk in, grab what you want, and leave. They need to make sure you’re getting the right treatment, not just the most convenient one. Acting like they’re a vending machine for antibiotics isn’t the way to start the appointment.
3. “I don’t usually come to the doctor, but this has been going on for months.”
Translation: “I ignored this for way too long, and now I expect you to fix it immediately.” GPs understand that people don’t love going to appointments, but letting a problem drag on just makes their job harder. Now, instead of dealing with something minor, they have to figure out what’s going on after weeks or months of it getting worse. The sooner you see them, the easier their job — and your recovery — will be.
4. “Can you just squeeze in my partner/kid while I’m here?”
This might seem harmless, but GPs work on tight schedules. Your appointment is booked for you, not for an extra person who also “just needs a quick check-up.” What seems like a small favour to you is actually throwing off their entire day. They want to give each patient proper attention, not rush through extra people because you decided to bring your whole family. If your partner or child needs an appointment, book one like everyone else.
5. “I know my body.”
Of course, you do — no one is saying you don’t. But when a doctor hears this, it often means the patient is completely shutting down any medical advice that doesn’t match what they already believe. They trust that you know what feels normal and what doesn’t, but they also have the training to see things you might not. If you’re convinced you know best before they’ve even had a chance to assess you, it makes their job a whole lot harder.
6. “I’m not really a fan of doctors.”
Fine, but they’re still here to help you. Telling a doctor you don’t like doctors is like telling a chef you don’t trust restaurant food while sitting in their restaurant. It’s not exactly a great way to start. They know people can have bad experiences with healthcare, but leading with this just makes things awkward. If you’re in their office, at least give them a chance before assuming the worst.
7. “I don’t take medicine.”
There’s nothing wrong with preferring natural remedies, but if you say this outright before the doctor has even suggested anything, it can be frustrating. It shuts down the conversation before they’ve had a chance to offer solutions. GPs aren’t just there to throw pills at you — they can recommend lifestyle changes, therapies, and alternatives. However, completely rejecting medical treatment before hearing your options makes it harder for them to help.
8. “I just need an antibiotic — I always get one for this.”
GPs hear this all the time, and most of the time, the answer is no. Antibiotics don’t work for viruses, and just because you’ve been given one in the past doesn’t mean you need one now. Nothing frustrates doctors more than patients insisting on unnecessary medication. If they say you don’t need it, trust them. Overusing antibiotics causes bigger problems, and no, demanding one won’t change that.
9. “I saw this on TikTok…”
Medical trends on social media are a nightmare for doctors. Every week, there’s a new ridiculous health hack that patients come in asking about. Some of them are harmless, but others are downright dangerous. GPs have to waste valuable time debunking nonsense they never should’ve had to explain in the first place. If your medical advice is coming from an influencer instead of an actual doctor, that’s already a red flag.
10. “I’m sure it’s nothing, but…”
This one is tricky because doctors do want people to come in for concerns, but opening with “I’m sure it’s nothing” makes it seem like you’re expecting them to brush it off. It also puts them in an awkward position if it turns out to be something serious. Instead of downplaying your symptoms, just explain what’s going on. Let them decide whether it’s nothing or something that needs attention—after all, that’s what they’re there for.
11. “I don’t have time for this.”
GPs are busy, too, but if you’re in their surgery, you clearly had time to come in. Rushing through an appointment because you have “better things to do” makes it harder for them to assess you properly. Good healthcare takes time, and acting like your time is more important than theirs doesn’t help anyone. If you’re going to the doctor, at least give them a chance to do their job.
12. “I read an article that says…”
Some articles are great, but a lot of online medical advice is misleading or flat-out wrong. Doctors don’t mind well-researched patients, but when someone starts an argument with, “Well, I read that…” it often means they’re about to ignore actual medical advice. There’s a difference between staying informed and assuming that one random article outweighs years of medical training. If you have questions, ask, but don’t assume everything you read online is fact.
13. “I didn’t follow the advice last time, but…”
Hearing that a patient completely ignored previous instructions is one of the most frustrating things for a GP.. If they already told you what to do, and you didn’t do it, it makes it hard for them to help. They get that people don’t always follow through perfectly, but if you ignored everything they said last time, don’t expect a different outcome this time around.
14. “Can you just check one more thing?”
Your appointment was for one issue, but now you’re bringing up three others at the last minute. While it’s understandable to want to get the most out of your visit, adding on extra problems can throw off their entire schedule. If it’s a quick question, fine. But if it’s something that needs real attention, book a separate appointment. GPs want to give you proper care, not rush through multiple concerns because you squeezed them in at the last minute.
