What to say when you call
You do not need medical vocabulary. Say who the patient is, what has been happening and roughly for how long — that is enough to fix an appropriate slot. If the situation is urgent, say so plainly.
What to bring
- Previous prescriptions, even old ones
- Blood test, ECG, CT or MRI reports if any
- A list of all medicines currently being taken
- Discharge summaries from any earlier admission
- School reports, for a child being assessed
- A relative who has observed the symptoms
If you have nothing, come anyway. Missing paperwork is not a reason to postpone a first consultation.
How long the first visit takes
Plan for a first consultation to take longer than a general physician's visit. A psychiatric history covers sleep, appetite, mood, work, relationships, substance use and family history, and it cannot be rushed without losing accuracy. Follow-up visits are considerably shorter.
Timings that suit working people
The chamber is open until 10 PM every day including Sunday, specifically so that people do not have to take leave or explain an absence at work. Evening slots fill first, so call earlier in the day for one.
Bringing someone who does not want to come
This is common, particularly with addiction, psychosis and elderly patients. It is not a dead end. Call and describe the situation — practical approaches for getting the person to a first consultation can be discussed, and in some cases relatives can be seen first on their own.