When Answers Don’t Come We all know the drill when we suspect something might not be quite right with our health. Step one; you feel an ache, or a pain, or some other symptom that seems a little out of the ordinary. Step two; you delay doing anything for a while (either because you feel it’s nothing or because of a worry that it might in fact, be something). Then comes the inevitable final step of engaging with a doctor where you hope to be given a quick answer as to what is going on, or to at least be put on the pathway to one. We anticipate that we will be given a ‘why’ behind any blip and then be sent on our merry way, potentially via a quick sojourn to the pharmacist for a quick course of something. But this isn’t always the case. Sometimes people can be left without answers, without certainty and isolated to the extent that they feel shut out of their own healthcare. In this scenario, some patients can fall by the wayside, whilst others feel forced to advocate for themselves, determined to overcome the painful shrug of doctors’ shoulders and perhaps an offer of counselling. We can often see this in the women’s healthcare space, where women experiencing gynaecological symptoms are put on the pill with alarming regularity (the equivalent of any port in a storm). Once on this pathway, the perception from some women can be that their doctors have abandoned the pursuit of the ‘why’ behind their symptoms but instead have chosen the path of least resistance; being happy to find a horse rather than search for the zebra. The Turning Point: Choosing to Advocate This point is the critical juncture for patients or indeed caregivers who choose to fight and advocate for solutions, fighting back against suboptimal care. These individuals are highly motivated, frustrated, often angry and incredulous, (see Josie’s story) who feel that their concerns have been dismissed or minimised with phrases such as “it’s just period pain”. But this decision to take a stand, can put incredible emotional pressure on patient advocates as it demands they be able to assert themselves during consultations with doctors, potentially the most opportune moment to be raising questions or suggesting routes of exploration. But the confidence required to push back against a healthcare expert who seems too willing to give up, can be too much, even for those most prepared and well researched. Ultimately where does this leave patients, who continue to struggle to find a diagnosis and whose doctors seem not to care or feel driven by a sense of urgency? Isolated, lonely and anchorless. It’s time that patients are better listened to. At HRW, our dedicated Patient Research team, Patient Panorama, puts the patient voice front and centre, seeking to listen to their authentic experiences and share their stories with our clients. To hear more about our ethos and ideas, and how patient insights can support your brand decisions, reach out to our dedicated patient research team, fill in the Contact Us form below. Apply Now!