Below are some of the questions we are often asked. If you do not see what you are looking for here, then please feel free to ask next time you see the Doctor. See also the Links Page for some useful sites where you can find more information.
If your doctor has diagnosed a particular illness or condition for you, particularly a long term or serious one, it is possible that on the first occasion you may not have fully understood all that he has told you or you may want to know even more and ask further questions. If so, don't hesitate to ask to see him again for a further explanation (if necessary ask for a longer appointment) and go prepared with a list of questions. Take your partner or a friend with you if this is helpful. The practice nurse and the pharmacist also have numerous leaflets available and you may like to ask them first.
If you have been diagnosed as suffering from a particular condition - cancer, asthma, heart problem and so on - it is often helpful to get in touch with one of the hundreds of voluntary societies, locally or nationally, which offer information and support. Some of these are listed in the Guernsey Evening Press and the surgeries also have some information. You can also contact the Citizens Advice Bureau (phone number is in the directory) or search the reference section of the Guille Alles Library. You can also contact the officers of the PPG or the committee members of your particular surgery. They may be able to put you in touch with a fellow patient suffering the same condition or who has experienced a similar operation. Don't be put off if you don't get the information you want from your first contact. The number of self help groups is vast and constantly changing so you may have to approach more than one source.
Please ask your surgery where helpful advice on travel grants and procedures is available. Do remember that if you are now going to the UK form Private Medical Treatment, the HSSD (Social Security Authority) will no longer pay any of the costs towards this. Please check with them or the surgery first if you have any concerns.
If you are not happy with your Doctor and wish to change, you are free to see another Doctor in the Practice if you wish. If you wish to change to another practice you should go to the Practice you would like to register with and they will give you some forms to fill in. They will have to contact your previous Practice to carry out a few administrative checks, and there is a small fee to cover the cost of coping and sending your notes to your new Practice.
If you feel that you need a home visit there is always a Doctor on call 24 hours a day. Please do not request a visit if you can possibly get to the surgery. A Doctor will always visit if your medical condition requires it, so it is up to you to be as clear and precise about your symptoms or those of the patient. If you feel that you cannot get to the Surgery, then please try and give as much notice as possible so that we are able to schedule in any visits. Whilst we will try and give some indication of the time you can expect to be seen, please remember that these are only approximate.
If you are sufficiently worried, do not hesitate to call the Duty Doctor during the night. Most people go through agonies of indecision about whether or not to phone at night-time. Anxieties are always greater and more acute in the small hours of the morning. It may be that some advice will be all that is needed and then you may be better to be seen at the surgery the following morning. It is not easy to outline the symptoms which indicate the need to call a Doctor at night time, but remember your child's health and well-being are your responsibility. If you are concerned you should call a Doctor. You may find it helpful to discuss the situation with the doctor. He may not need to visit, but will give advice over the telephone. If your concern turns out to have been ill-founded, it does not mean that you have wasted the Doctor's time. It is best for you to trust your judgement and feelings. The Doctors will appreciate your genuine concern. On Emergency calls it is helpful to give the Doctor all the details you can over the phone and to be as precise as possible, mentioning any past illnesses, since you may not be speaking to your own Doctor on a night call. If the Doctor does not come out, take his advice but do not hesitate to phone again if you feel the need.
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