Health chiefs have launched a campaign to encourage patients to ask for details about their treatment.

The new initiative, dubbed ‘It’s Ok to Ask,’ aims to convince people to find out more about their care so they can better understand what is being recommended for them.

Dr John McAnaw, head of pharmacy at NHS 24, said the campaign will help patients and healthcare professionals engage in “positive conversations” about treatment.

He added: “It’s happened to us all – you come out of a healthcare appointment realising the questions you forgot to ask or worrying over the questions you wanted to ask but didn’t.

“This new campaign encourages a little bit of forward planning around what you would like to know about your care from your healthcare professional.

“Before an appointment or discussion, take some time to think about what you would like to know about your treatment.”

There are concerns that the ongoing Covid pandemic has made some patients more reluctant to come forward for treatment if they are feeling unwell.

However, health bosses have stressed that no-one should suffer in silence.

Dr McAnaw said questions that patients can ask include what are the benefits of my treatment, what are the risks, are there other treatments I can try and what if I do nothing?

He added: “These questions can help you feel more involved in decisions about your care and give you confidence in following your healthcare plan.

“Your healthcare professional is happy to answer any questions you might have, as they know it’s better to have patients who are content and informed about their next steps.

“Simply by being more involved, you’ll be able to make better decisions for you about your own care.”

Visit NHS Inform for more details.