Before your
first appointment.
Everything you need to know about becoming a patient at The Village GP — what to bring, what to expect, and how to get started.
Opening 1 May 2026 · Now taking bookings · Constantia, Cape Town
The more Dr Steph knows,the more useful she can be.
Good care isn't built in a single consultation; it's built over time, from a picture that grows richer with
every visit. Here's what goes into creating that picture, and how you can help Dr Steph get a better
understanding of you.
Don't have everything? That's fine. Dr Steph will ask for what she needs and request what she
doesn't have.
If there's a clinical history, it belongs here. Dr Steph reads what came before so she can focus on what's useful to do next, whether that's continuing a course or going in a new direction.
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Blood test resultsAny recent pathology, including results you haven't fully understood. Dates and lab names help.
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Imaging reportsX-rays, MRI, ultrasound, both the written report and the images if they're available.
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Current medicationsEverything you take regularly; prescriptions, supplements, vitamins, contraception, over-the-counter.
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Specialist lettersSpecialist correspondence, hospital discharge summaries, referral letters. Even old ones are useful.
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Monitoring recordsBP, glucose, weight. If you track it at home, bring the log. Trends matter more than single readings.
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Known diagnoses and surgical historyConditions, allergies, operations - including things that feel old or resolved, they can still matter.
Records show what has happened to you medically. They don't show who you are, how you live, or what actually matters to you. That's the part that actually makes treatment plans effective.
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Your lifestyleSleep, exercise, diet, alcohol, stress, work demands. Not a judgement checklist; just context for how you actually live.
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Your real constraintsWhat's feasible for you; financially, practically, in terms of time and family. This shapes what advice is actually useful.
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Family historyHeart disease, diabetes, cancer, autoimmune conditions in close relatives. This shapes your risk profile.
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What you've already been toldBy other doctors, specialists, or practitioners. Even if you're unsure it was correct its useful to share.
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What matters most to youWhat you want from your health, not just what you want fixed. Some things you'll live with, others you won't.
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What hasn't workedTreatments tried, medications that didn't suit you, approaches that were abandoned. This guides us forward.
Most patients apologise for "probably nothing." But what they've noticed is often exactly the signal that matters. Don't edit yourself - share exactly what you've been feeling.
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When it startedAs precisely as you can. "A few weeks ago" is useful. "The week after we moved house" is more useful.
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What makes it better or worseFood, sleep, activity, stress, position, time of day. Patterns are often as informative as the symptom itself.
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How it's changed over timeGetting worse, staying the same, or coming and going? A symptom's trajectory matters as much as its presence.
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Your instinct about itIf something feels off, say so. "I just don't feel right" is a valid and often accurate starting point.
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What you're actually worried aboutNot just the symptom, but the concern underneath it. Naming it means Dr Steph can address it directly.
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What you've already triedPharmacy remedies, lifestyle changes, things that helped temporarily. It's useful to know how your body responds.
Your first appointment starts a picture.
Every interaction adds detail.
Unlike a walk-in clinic or a rotating roster of doctors, The Village GP is a solo practice, which means Dr Steph holds your full picture herself. Over time, she knows that you understate symptoms when you're anxious. That your back pain comes from stress, not exertion. That you've tried three approaches and none suited you. That kind of accumulated knowledge can't be retrieved from a file; it's earned through continuity.
Things people often ask.
No. You can book directly. No referral from another doctor is needed to see a GP in South Africa — simply make an appointment and come in.
First appointments are longer than standard consultations to allow time for a full introduction and history. This means we can understand your health properly from the start, rather than rushing through a get-to-know-you visit in fifteen minutes.
Yes. We'll guide you through this. If you have records, results, or specialist letters from a previous doctor, bring what you have, and we'll update your patient profile. If you don't have anything to hand, that's fine too — we'll build your file from your first visit.
We don't bill medical aid directly — you pay us at the time of your visit, and we provide you with a fully compliant invoice to submit to your scheme for reimbursement. We understand this matters, so we make the paperwork as straightforward as possible. What you get back depends on your specific plan and benefit level, but we're happy to walk you through what to expect.
Contact us via WhatsApp or phone. We'll help you decide whether you need an appointment, whether it's urgent, or whether it's something that can wait. You don't need to have it figured out before you reach out.
Yes. We are a new practice opening 1 May 2026 and warmly welcome new patients. Whether you're new to Constantia, looking for a long-term GP, or ready for a fresh start — we'd love to meet you.