Questions for your appointment

How it works

The list is for an appointment with, for example, the GP, the neighbourhood team, the council, school or the UWV (the Dutch employee insurance agency). You make it beforehand, so you do not have to remember everything during the appointment. You see the sheet as it comes out of the printer: on a big screen while you fill it in, on a phone at the last step. It is A4, with empty lines under each question for the answer. At the bottom there is space for what you agree and for the next appointment.

1. Write down who your appointment is with, and when. Is someone going with you? Write that down too.
2. Write down what you want to tell them. For example, what is going on, and since when.
3. Write down your questions, one per line. Not sure what to ask? Then choose a question from the examples.
4. Tick what you are taking with you.
5. Print your list and take it with you. During the appointment, write the answers on the empty lines under your questions.

On paper

You can also make the list by hand. Take a sheet of paper and write down these questions, with space underneath:

• Who is my appointment with, and when?
• Who is going with me?
• What do I want to say?
• What do I want to ask? Leave a few lines free under each question for the answer. Not sure what to ask? For example: What will happen now? What can I do myself? When will I hear more? Who can I call if I have another question?
• What am I taking with me? Think of your ID (passport, ID card or driving licence), your health insurance card, letters about the appointment, your medicines or a list of them, and this list.
• What do we agree? And when is the next appointment?

Good to know

• Everything can stay empty. Whatever you do not fill in becomes an empty line on paper. You can write something there by hand later, also during the appointment.
• At the start of the appointment, put your list on the table. Say that you have written down a few questions.
• Do you not understand something? Ask them to explain it again, in other words.
• Write the answers down straight away. Or ask the person who goes with you to do it. Do you want to bring someone? Then ask if that is possible when you make the appointment.
• Is your appointment about a treatment? Then you can ask these three questions: What are my options? What are the pros and cons of those options? What does that mean in my situation? They come from the campaign 3 goede vragen (three good questions) from the Patiëntenfederatie Nederland, the Dutch patients' federation ↗ (external website).
• Print your list before you close the page. Nothing is saved or sent, so after that everything is gone.