Signs it's time to change GPs — and how to choose better

You've been seeing the same GP for three years. Last visit, they rushed through your check-up in seven minutes, didn't ask about the medication changes you mentioned in the waiting room form, and seemed more interested in closing their notes than understanding why you're really there. On the drive home, you wondered: is this normal, or is it time to find someone else?

Most people tolerate a mediocre GP relationship far longer than they should, often because switching feels like inconvenience rather than necessity. But a poor fit—whether it's dismissive behaviour, persistent disorganisation, or simple incompetence—compounds over time. You skip follow-ups. You don't mention symptoms you think will be rushed. You lose trust in advice you're given. The damage is quiet but real.

When your GP stops listening, or never really did

The clearest red flag is feeling unheard. You describe symptoms and the doctor interrupts halfway through, or offers a diagnosis before you've finished explaining. They dismiss concerns you've brought up twice before. They don't ask follow-up questions or seem curious about context—how long this has been happening, what makes it worse, whether it's affecting your life.

Listening is not a luxury add-on; it's foundational medicine. A GP who doesn't listen misses things. Worse, you stop trusting the advice they give, because you know they haven't actually understood the problem. If you've noticed yourself self-editing symptoms or avoiding certain topics because you expect to be rushed or judged, that's a sign the relationship is broken.

Disorganisation that affects your care

A practice that can't keep basic systems straight will eventually cost you. You call for a repeat prescription and no one follows up for two weeks. Your test results sit in a pile and the doctor hasn't reviewed them. You're told to come back on Monday, then told on arrival there's no appointment—it was cancelled without notifying you. Records are missing or incomplete. Blood pressure readings from last month have vanished.

Small slip-ups happen everywhere. But a pattern of disorganisation suggests the practice is stretched too thin, indifferent to detail, or both. That's when your health suffers. You might miss a medication because no one reordered it. A serious test result could be overlooked. The cost of finding a better-organised practice is almost always worth it.

When your GP doesn't explain or respect your choices

You're prescribed medication and don't really understand what it does or why, because the doctor didn't explain and you were too tired or embarrassed to ask. You mention preferring not to take antibiotics unless absolutely necessary and the GP dismisses you as anti-medicine. You ask about a second opinion and they act offended. You want to talk about lifestyle changes before medication and they're already writing the script.

A good GP explains their reasoning, answers questions without impatience, and respects your informed choices even when they'd choose differently. If you consistently feel talked at rather than with, or feel your preferences are dismissed, you're in the wrong place. The relationship should include you as a decision-maker, not just a patient receiving orders.

The shift from bad fit to time-wasting

Sometimes a GP is competent but simply not right for you. Their communication style clashes with yours. They're always overbooked and you spend more time waiting than talking. They specialise in acute care but you need someone thoughtful about chronic disease. Or you've changed—you're now a parent, you have new health concerns, you've moved across town—and this doctor doesn't fit your life anymore.

These aren't failings; they're mismatches. Staying with a mismatched GP wastes your time and theirs. It also keeps you from finding someone whose strengths align with what you actually need.

Making the switch

You don't need a dramatic reason to change. Collect your medical records, ask your old practice for a summary of key issues, and start fresh. When you meet a new GP, notice how they ask questions, whether they take notes or seem distracted, and how they explain things. A first visit should feel different—more spacious, more curious, more collaborative.

If you're searching for a GP who listens and organises well, Strove lets you compare practices, read what others have experienced, and find someone available in your area. The time you invest in finding a better fit pays back in trust and better health decisions.