Today

Dr Ian Banks, president of the Men's Health Forum, looks at how men can be encourgaed to visit their family doctor more often.

"We know that men are reluctant to visit their GP. So what would encourage them to go more often?

As part of the Men's Health Forum response to the Government's "Your health, your care, your say" consultation exercise on the future of non-hospital services, we have asked men what one thing they would change to make it more likely they would visit their GP. Their response was overwhelming - extended surgery hours. They would like to see their surgery open in the evenings and on Saturdays.

It is clear from the replies we received from men, that GP surgeries are failing to reach out to men and I believe this is actively contributing to the poor state of male health in England.

Men are clearly not satisfied with the current family doctor service. Apart from wanting to see extended surgery hours, they would like more male clinics, more check ups and screening tests.

Interestingly, when the Men's Health Forum asked a selection of health professionals for their views, they echoed the findings from men. Many believed that health services made men feel unwelcome and said health services were often provided in “feminised” premises, in terms of décor and display material, and that there was a gender bias in the provision of some services.

There is clearly a need for more "male-friendly" surgeries. Men would like to see more men's magazines and men's health posters in the waiting room, and more male receptionists and male nurse practitioners. One man told us he would like to see old cowboy films shown in the waiting room, while another suggested televised football.

I agree with those men who suggested that surgeries should be held in local betting shops, pubs, golf clubs and other men's venues.

Many of the health professionals we consulted suggested that during the course of their lifetimes, many men learned attitudes that pre-disposed them not only to poorer health behaviours, such as greater risk-taking than women, but also to poorer use of services. It was suggested that men were:

- More likely to try to "tough out" illness.
- More likely to give priority to work commitments over treatment and rest.
- More likely to have a self image that encouraged them to deny illness - 'illness equals weakness'.
- Less likely than women to be prepared to discuss their health.
- More likely to fear the consequences of illness and disease.

So I urge the Government to take on board these ideas and to help bring about a culture change among GPs. Many of the things men are calling for could quite easily happen tomorrow. We must develop services that men will find accessible and attractive so that they do not delay seeking help while their health continues to deteriorate.

This does not mean to giving priority to men over women, but simply acknowledging that men and women have different attitudes to primary care services and use them differently."