This Morning’s TV doctor Dr Amir Khan has shared NHS GP appointment advice, revealing the things patients unnecessarily apologise for during doctor visits, and he hears them all the time
Dr Amir Khan urged people to stop apologising for these things…(Image: Gareth Cattermole, Getty Images)
Dr Amir Khan has shared the things he wishes his patients would never apologise for when they come to visit him at his GP’s surgery, urging others to stop apologising for the same things, too, when they book an appointment to see their doctor.
Dr Amir, a familiar face on ITV’s This Morning and daytime telly, has earned a reputation for his extraordinary compassion towards his patients, with many expressing a wish they could “clone him” due to his outstanding approach to healthcare, an attitude which is not always mirrored across the NHS.
“Team, honestly, no need to apologise, it’s literally why I’m here!” he wrote, before revealing the kinds of apologies he regularly receives from patients, and why he insists they stop, as he doesn’t really care at all!
‘Sorry, I haven’t shaved’
Dr Amir made clear that he has absolutely no concern over whether you’ve shaved your legs, or whether you feel your “toenails look a mess”.
So long as he can properly examine whatever has brought you in and offer appropriate advice or a referral, that is genuinely all that matters to him.
He quipped that he’s “seen hairy legs before,” adding that even during an intimate examination, the absence of shaving is of no consequence whatsoever.
“Please, you’re having a medical examination, I am not bothered about anything else,” he reassured.
‘Sorry, I’ve gained weight’
Dr Amir also encouraged patients not to apologise if they’ve put on weight, as this is something you can discuss with your GP to understand the underlying reasons if they’re not already apparent.
‘Sorry, I can’t stop crying’
Dr Amir explained that becoming emotional during a doctor’s appointment requires no apology whatsoever.
“If you need to cry, cry,” he said.
‘Sorry, I’ve forgotten the name of one of my tablets’
He encouraged people not to apologise for forgetting their medication names. “I’ve got a computer, I can look it up,” he reassured.
‘Sorry to waste your time’
He stated: “Please don’t say things like I’m sorry to waste your time. If something is worrying you enough that you’ve come to make an appointment to come and see me, that’s what I’m here for”.
‘This is really embarrassing, doctor’
Dr Amir assured patients that nothing is embarrassing, explaining: “I promise you that whatever you’re about to tell me, there is a very, very, good chance that I’ve heard it before.
“Bodies bleed, they leak, they smell, they make noises at deeply inconvenient moments. They grow lumps and rashes and hairs in places you’re not expecting. That’s what being human is all about. So you don’t need to apologise for any of it”.
‘Sorry, I didn’t come in sooner’
He added that there’s no need to apologise for delaying your visit, because “you’re here now,” and if you’re “frightened,” he recognises that sometimes people need time before seeking help. He also mentioned that you’ve likely hoped it would “go away” or that “life got in the way”, but the crucial thing is that you actually come and consult him.
What does Dr Amir Khan actually care about?
Dr Amir said: “The only thing that I care about is that you feel able to tell me what’s really going on. Because the thing you might be embarrassed about might actually be really important, and I can’t help something you feel ashamed to tell me.
“So, come as you are, cry if you need to, don’t shave anything on my account, and please stop apologising for just being a patient. You’re not an inconvenience, you’re literally the reason why I’m here”.
