What's brought you in today?

Neutral Polite

What it really means

The classic opening question a GP asks at the start of an appointment — it just means "why are you here?" Answer with your main problem first; appointments are short (about 10 minutes), so start with what matters most.

Chinese explanation

GP开始问诊时的经典开场白，意思就是"你今天为什么来？"先说最主要的问题；问诊时间很短（约10分钟），要先讲最要紧的事。

Example conversation

A: So, what's brought you in today? B: I've had a pain in my lower back for about three weeks.

A：你今天是哪里不舒服？ B：我腰下部疼了大概三个星期了。

What you could say back

No spoken reply needed for this one.

Related phrases

How long has it been going on? Appointment

Official sources

Rules and amounts change — confirm important details with the official source.

Go deeper

Dentists and Opticians in the UK: Costs, NHS Bands and How to Get Seen How the NHS Works: Where to Go When You Are Ill in England Mental Health Support in the UK: Where to Turn and How It Works

All Healthcare & NHS

Reviewed by the UK Decoded editorial team · Last checked 24 July 2026 · Report a mistake