Skip to main content Skip to navigation

Questions to ask health professionals

To get the most from a consultation with a GP, neurologist, MS nurse or other health professional, it helps to go prepared with questions to ask and an idea of the sort of information you'd like to know. It might not be possible for them to provide answers for all questions, but by being prepared you will be able to cover the topics you want to discuss.

There are a number of resources to help you consider the sort of questions you may want to ask.

1. Questions about specific treatment

MS Trust links

Tips for living with MS - medical matters
This section from the Tips book contains ideas from people with MS on ways to get the most from health services. It also includes tips on managing some of the symptoms of MS.

Other sources of information

Questions to ask about neurological services
A list of fifty questions compiled by the charity The Brain And Spine Foundation
Questions to ask before you leave your appointment
A leaflet developed by the NHS to help people get the most from their appointments
Choosing the right treatment
The Royal College of Physicians (RCP) have published a short information sheet giving ideas of how to discuss available treatments and questions to ask doctors.
Ask About Medicines questions
Ask About Medicines is a campaigning organisation that aims to encourage better communication between the users of medications and their healthcare professionals and pharmacists. If people ask questions about medicines they are more likely to use them safely and effectively and make better informed choices about taking medicines.

To this end, Ask About Medicines have developed six basic questions:

  • What does this medicine do?
  • Why is it important that I take this medicine? Are there any other treatment options?
  • When and how should I take it?
  • How long should I take it for?
  • What should I be aware of when taking this medicine? (eg. possible risks, side effects, taking medicines with certain foods/drinks/activities, what to do if I don't feel well while I am taking it, how to store it safely etc)
  • Where can I go for more information?
Finding and using information about health and medicines
A booklet published by Ask About Medicines that gives advice on how to find appropriate information about health and medicines. It also contains general information about medicines and a list of websites and phone numbers where you can go to get reliable information.
What you need to know about my condition
The Neurological Alliance, of which the MS Trust is a member, has developed a form to allow people with a neurological condition to share important information about how their condition affects them with those offering them care. When you have completed the leaflet, you may wish to talk through its contents with any professionals involved in your care. You could ask for a copy of this leaflet to be stored with any notes held by a GP, social worker, or other professional.

2.Guidance about what health services should be available

Getting the best from neurological services
A booklet published by the Neurological Alliance that describes the type of services that are available for people living with a neurological condition. The book is based on services in England, but much of the information will be relevant throughout the UK.

The book can be downloaded as one file (click on the title above) and can also be downloaded a separate sections

NICE clinical guidelines
NICE (the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence) published the National Clinical Guidelines for the Management of Multiple Sclerosis in Primary and Secondary Care in the National Health Service in November 2003. These guidelines were designed to provide a reasonable level of care for everyone with MS across England.
National Service Framework (NSF) for Long-term conditions
The Department of Health launched the NSF for Long-term conditions in March 2005. The NSF focuses on the needs of people with neurological disease and brain or spinal injury and has 11 very specific quality requirements, with patient centred care underpinning all of these quality requirements.