Internal medicine exists for the situations that do not sort neatly into one department: symptoms that cross several systems, several long term conditions interacting, or an illness that has not yet been given a name. The value of a consultant physician is largely in that integrative work, holding the whole picture, sequencing investigation sensibly, and knowing when a specialist opinion genuinely adds something.
It also covers a great deal of ordinary, essential care. Blood pressure that will not settle. Medication lists that have grown over years and need reviewing. Assessment before surgery. Infections, anaemia, abnormal blood results that need explaining rather than repeating.
What a consultation covers
- Symptoms that span more than one system
- Hypertension and cardiovascular risk
- Managing several long term conditions together
- Medication review and rationalisation
- Pre-operative medical assessment
- Investigation of abnormal blood results
What to bring to your first appointment
- Every medication you take, including ones from other doctors
- All recent blood results, even the ones you were told were normal
- A short written list of your symptoms in the order they began
- Letters from any other specialist you are under