Your GP is trained to diagnose and treat a wide range of illnesses, ranging from chronic diseases like diabetes to conditions like the flu or chest infections. But not every condition can be diagnosed at your GP practice.
In this article, we discuss what your GP can and can’t do for you, and what happens when you need additional support for your illness.
Key Takeaways
- GPs should be your first point of contact for non-emergency medical issues.
- GPs can support you with a range of tests, including blood tests, urine tests, stool tests, blood pressure tests, and more.
- Some GPs may be able to offer scans in the practice, but most commonly, you will be referred to your local hospital.
- GPs will be your first point of contact for vaccinations, including for babies and young children.
- GPs can provide fit/sick notes, and may need to discuss your condition with your employer before you can be signed “not fit for work”.
- GPs may provide referrals to specialists for treatment and guidance for specific conditions.
- You may be able to self-refer for issues surrounding mental health, physiotherapy, sexual health, and more.
Quicklinks
- What tests can I request from my GP?
- What scans can I request from my GP?
- What your GP can diagnose/can’t diagnose?
- Vaccinations
- Requesting a Fit/Sick Notes
- What is a GP referral?
- Become a MyHealthcare Clinic member
- Frequently Asked Questions
What tests can I request from my GP?
GP Practices have a lot of resources to help perform basic tests. These include:
- Blood tests: To check for issues like high cholesterol, diabetes, liver function and blood counts.
- Urine and stool tests: To check for issues like UTIs, kidney disease, and inflammation.
- Blood pressure testing: To check whether your blood pressure levels are high or low, and advise accordingly.
- Physical exams: An overall health exam that looks into your general health, noting weight, height, heart rate, blood pressure, BMI, and evaluations of the heart, lungs, head and neck, abdomen, and neurological reflexes.
- Cervical screens: To assess the health of the cervix and to help prevent issues like cervical cancer.
Other common tests include:
- Spirometry (Blowing into a spirometer to test how well you can breathe out)
- Spirometry with reversibility (Blowing into a spirometer to test how well you can breathe in and out before and after using an inhaler)
- Doppler Studies: Where your GP uses sound waves to help measure the flow of blood in the arms and legs.
- Helicobacter Breath Tests: Where your breath may reveal if you have heliobacter pylori – a germ that infects the stomach lining and may cause stomach problems.
- Hearing Test: Where an audiometer is used to play a series of tones through headphones. You will be asked to respond to each tone to determine if there is a pattern to any hearing loss you may have.
- Home Blood Pressure Monitoring: Where you are asked to monitor your own blood pressure over a period of time in a location where you are more relaxed.
If you think you need a specific test, speak to your GP to see if they can perform it within the practice or whether they will need to refer you to a specialist.
What scans can I request from my GP?
While most GP practices won’t have access to complex machinery to perform things like CT scans, your GP can refer you to get X-rays, Ultrasounds, CT scans, and MRI scans at your local hospital or the best hospital to diagnose any issue.
What your GP can diagnose/can’t diagnose?
GPs are excellent at diagnosing a range of conditions, including common illnesses and injuries. These could include:
- Colds and Flu – GPs regularly deal with common respiratory illnesses like colds and flu, alongside symptoms that may cause discomfort like sore throats. Your GP will likely recommend over-the-counter medicine to support your recovery, or if needed, prescribe antiviral medications.
- Chronic conditions – Chronic conditions like arthritis, asthma, and diabetes can all be managed by your GP, who can monitor you, create a treatment plan, and prescribe medicine. They can also support with heart issues like hypertension.
- Infection – Common infections are often diagnosed and treated by GPs. These typically include ear infections, chest infections, skin infections, UTIs, and more. Your GP will be able to provide antibiotics or other medicine as needed. If you suspect you have an infection due to an external wound or have concerns about an infection, call 111 for a rapid, over-the-phone assessment.
- Minor injuries – Your GP can diagnose and support you with minor injuries like minor sprains, cuts, and muscle strains. They can prescribe pain relief to support recovery and offer recommendations for you to follow.
- Mental health conditions – GPs can provide counselling, medication and referrals if you are dealing with mental health conditions like anxiety, panic disorders, or depression.
- Skin Conditions – GPs can provide guidance and offer topical treatments to manage skin conditions like psoriasis, acne, dermatitis, and eczema. They may also recommend lifestyle changes.
- Women’s health – Some GPs have midwives on staff or visiting, who can be available to discuss pregnancy and pregnancy-related issues. GPs can also help to support women with contraception, menstrual problems, and menopausal symptoms. Breast health and cervical screenings may also be performed at a GP practice.
What GPs can diagnose is not limited to the above, although you may be referred to a specialist to have the diagnosis confirmed, or to have scans or tests.
Vaccinations
If you require a vaccination, you will most likely receive it from your GP or potentially from a pharmacist.
If you have a baby or toddler, the GP practice they are registered with will be in touch to arrange appointments for your child’s vaccinations.
Requesting a Fit/Sick Notes
How to get a fit/sick note from my GP?
A healthcare professional supporting your care can provide a sick note for you. This includes:
- Your doctor.
- Your nurse/s.
- A Pharmacist at a GP surgery, hospital or clinic.
- Your physiotherapist.
- Your occupational therapist.
To get a sick note, arrange to speak to your healthcare professional either in person or over the phone. They will have a number of questions for you to assess whether you’re “not fit for work” or “may be fit for work”. They may also request support from your employer to help make this decision.
If your employer can’t offer the support that the healthcare professional advises, you will receive a “not fit for work” fit note.
When can you request a fit/sick note, and how might they help?
If you’re unwell and can’t work for more than 7 days, including bank holidays and weekends, you can acquire a fit note from your GP to present to your employer.
Fit notes are helpful in a number of ways:
- Support your return to the workplace.
- Support you staying in work.
- Fit notes can help you to claim benefits.
- Fit notes can help you to claim statutory sick pay.
Getting back to work
If you’re feeling recovered and able to get back to work, you should speak to your employer before your fit note ends to let them know that you’ve recovered sooner than expected.
This also allows time for your employer to make reasonable adjustments to help you return to work.
Your employer may ask for confirmation that you’re fit to return to work, but healthcare professionals do not need to provide this, and you do not need to see a healthcare professional again to go back to work.
There may be other requirements that must be met before you return to work, depending on your profession. For instance, DVLA rules will apply if you drive a large vehicle like a lorry or a bus.
These rules tend to apply to people who have taken time off work for conditions like:
- Diabetes.
- Syncope (fainting).
- Sleep apnoea.
- Epilepsy.
- Strokes.
- Glaucoma.
- Heart conditions.
How much does a fit note cost?
You do not need to pay for a sick note if you’re off work for more than 7 days.
Sometimes, employers may require evidence for the first 7 days of sickness. In this circumstance, the healthcare professional may charge a fee, which the employer should pay.
What is a GP referral?
A GP referral is when a GP refers you to a specialist doctor or unit to receive a diagnosis or treatment. In this section, we discuss when a referral might be given and what you can expect.
When does a GP refer me to a specialist?
Typically, your GP is your first port of call when you have a health issue or are worried about a particular symptom or set of symptoms. Your GP and the other practice members are highly skilled and will be able to diagnose, advise, and prescribe medicine for most common conditions.
Depending on your condition, though, your GP may decide that you should see another healthcare professional, who may be able to provide specialist treatment or testing.
Some examples of a referral may be:
- Referral to a specific hospital ward for tests, treatments, and monitoring.
- Referral for tests or scans to confirm a diagnosis.
- Referral for physiotherapy treatment.
- Referral for minor surgeries.
- Referral to a diabetes management professional or a smoking cessation professional.
Typically, you will need to speak to your GP to receive a referral, although you may also be referred by a nurse or other healthcare professional, like a midwife.
Self Referral
Self-referral may also be an option if you’d like to receive support for particular health conditions. Typically, you can self-refer when managing health conditions around:
- Mental health.
- Physiotherapy.
- Sexual health.
- Podiatry.
- Hearing.
- Vision.
- Quitting alcohol, smoking, or drugs.
What happens during a referral
You could be referred for any number of reasons. Here’s typically what may occur when this happens.
- You may be asked to go to a specialist clinic to attend an appointment.
- You may be asked to visit your local hospital for tests or scans.
- You may be asked to arrange an appointment with a specialist at your current GP surgery.
When will you hear about your referral?
Your referral may come in different forms depending on whether it’s a referral from your GP or from a hospital:
- GP practices may provide a reference number and password that you can use to book, change, or cancel your appointment online or over the phone.
- Hospitals typically send letters with the time and date of your referral appointment. Read the letter carefully, as some hospitals require a response to confirm your attendance.
- You may also receive a letter asking you to phone the hospital to arrange your appointment.
What happens if you need a follow-up appointment?
Your specialist will advise you on whether you need to attend a follow-up appointment, require ongoing care, or can be discharged back to your GP.
If you require a follow-up, the hospital will be in touch to tell you when your next appointment is.
Become a MyHealthcare Clinic member
MyHealthcare Clinic members enjoy quick and easy access to MyHealthcare clinics across the UK. Thanks to MyHealthcare Clinics’ shared membership data, you can receive tailored treatment from any clinic.
If you’d like to register or book an appointment at a MyHealthcare clinic, please proceed through our Booking system or call your preferred clinic directly. If you’d like to learn about our medical services, be sure to view our MyMedical page.
Frequently Asked Questions
What do I do if I don’t hear from the hospital about a follow-up appointment?
If you don’t hear about your follow-up appointment, please call the specialist department where you had your first consultation.
What is the role of a GP in diabetes?
GPs typically manage your diabetes and act as your first point of contact for any issues. They will also come up with a plan to help you manage your diabetes, and they may also refer you to a specialist if they believe it is required.
What can a GP help you with?
General Practitioners are medical professionals who can provide you with a diagnosis, advice, and treatment for a range of common illnesses and medical issues.
GPs should be your first point of contact for all non-emergency medical issues, providing support for physical health, chronic conditions, and mental health. They also provide preventative care, like vaccines, specialised advice for issues like addiction, and referrals, for when you may require a specialist.
Can you go to the GP for chest pain?
Yes, you can go to your GP for chest pain if:
- The chest pain comes and goes.
- You are worried about your chest pain, even if it goes away quickly.
If you have any of the following, call 999:
- Sudden pain or discomfort that doesn’t go away (a squeezing sensation or pressure in your chest)
- Pain that spreads from the left or right arm, or from the neck, jaw, stomach, or back.
- Chest pain and lightheadedness, sweatiness, nausea, or short of breath.
What is the 3-visit rule for GP?
The 3-visit rule for GPs (also known as Jess’s Rule) is a patient safety initiative. It requires GPs to reconsider and re-evaluate patient care if the patient presents three times with the same issue or worsening symptoms. This is to avoid missed diagnoses.
Complementary Reading
Vaccinations and when to have them (NHS)
What happens when you are referred by your GP to see a specialist? (NHS England)
Choosing your GP (MyHealthcare Clinic)