A pre-appointment note is a short message you write before a visit to summarise your symptoms, concerns or questions. It helps the clinic prepare, and it means you arrive with your thoughts organised rather than trying to remember everything in the consultation room.
How to add a pre-appointment note
- Go to Appointments and open the upcoming visit
- Tap Prepare for this appointment
- In the Pre-appointment note field, type your note
- Your note is sent to the clinic as soon as you save it
- You can edit the note up to 2 hours before the appointment
What to include
- The main symptom or concern — what you want the appointment to address
- When symptoms started and how they've changed
- What makes them better or worse
- Any medications you've taken in response
- Any questions you want answered, however small
- Anything specific you want to avoid (e.g. 'I need to discuss this without my partner being told')
Tips for an effective note
Keep it concise — three to five sentences is usually enough. The goal is to flag the main issue, not write a full history. The clinic already has your records; you're providing the context around your current concern.
Write it the evening before the appointment, not at the last minute — this gives you time to think of things you'd otherwise forget to mention. For a fuller guide to everything you can do before an appointment, see appointment prep.
What happens after you submit
The note is visible to the clinical team at the center and may be used to assign the right clinician, prepare relevant test requests, or alert the team to a potentially urgent concern before you arrive. Not all centers review notes before the visit — treat the note as preparation for yourself as much as for the clinic.