Meeting with Professionals

Meetings with professionals could be appointments with your GP, a Consultant or therapist at the hospital, a social worker, someone from the benefits agency or other advice worker. Meeting professionals can be quite daunting and emotiona,l especially if you are anxious or upset. Good preparation can help to ensure that the experience is a positive one.

Arranging the meeting:

• Ask where you will meet, you may have a choice.
  
• If possible ask what is to be discussed so you can think about it and talk to someone beforehand.
  
• Ask who will be there and think about having someone with you. (A friend/relative or someone from another agency).
  

Before the meeting:

• Think about what you want to say, write down your list of problems and what you want achieve from the meeting, or your report on how things are or have been since you last saw them.
  
• Look at your diary and any numbering system so you can explain how things have improved or got worse.
  
  

At the Meeting:

• Keep it simple and keep checking your notes.
  
• Listen to what is said and take notes or ask someone to come with you who can do this. Keep a record of all your meetings.
  
• If you don’t understand, don’t be afraid to say so and ask them to explain.
  
• Don’t see professionals as the enemy – they are just ordinary people who have some extra training.
  
• You might want to ask what alternatives they are prepared to consider; whether you can have a trial period; or explain that you need time to think about it and talk it through with someone else.
  
• Ask for any decision /information/outcomes from the meeting to be put in writing.
  
  

If things go wrong:

• Don’t get angry – take some deep breaths or ask for a short break.
• Don’t blame – focus on finding a solution.
  
• Say you are not comfortable with their decision and ask for a second opinion.
  
  

At the end of the meeting:

• Check you have covered all your points on your list.
  
• Ask them to repeat what people have agreed to do so everyone is clear.
  
• Ask that another time and venue be arranged if necessary
  
• Try and end the meeting on a friendly note.
  

A fact sheet “Meeting with Professionals” can be downloaded from the web site or requested in paper form from the Encephalitis Society.