4. Ending the consultation
Ending the consultation
Closing remarks
“Is there anything you’d like me to go over again?”
- The information that a patient receives when starting a new medicine can feel overwhelming, particularly if they have received a diagnosis of a condition that is new to them at the same time. Asking this question gives embarrassment-free permission to ask for some key information to be repeated, which could make all the difference in terms of a patient’s confidence in – and hence compliance with – their new medicine
- As a follow-up, it is worth underlining the importance of adhering to their treatment regime: correctly instilling the eye drops at the appropriate times and having regular monitoring will pick up on any issues. Be reassuring, stating that most people with glaucoma have a good quality of life and do not go blind, but remind them that they themselves are the biggest influence in their glaucoma outcomes.
“Is there anything else you want to know about your medicine?”
- The patient may not have any questions at this point, but suggest they make a note of any that occur in the future and pop back in to ask them
- This may also be a good point at which to remind the patient to order repeat prescriptions in a timely manner to ensure they don’t run out.
“Have you heard of Glaucoma UK?”
- Signposting to this patient organisation and other relevant resources such as information published by the NHS and RNIB can be a useful support to patients
- Flag up the fact that glaucoma can run in families, so close relatives may wish to be checked for the condition and may also be eligible for a free NHS sight test.
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