FAQ

What is Diagnosis Companion and who is it for?

Diagnosis Companion is here for anyone touched by a diagnosis - whether that's you or someone you love. It's designed to listen, support, and help you think through next steps at your own pace. You might be newly diagnosed, caring for a partner or family member, or supporting a friend. Wherever you are in your journey, Diagnosis Companion can help you feel less alone.

What can Diagnosis Companion help me with?

Diagnosis Companion can help you:

• Put words to what you're feeling, even if it's messy or hard to explain

• Understand letters from hospitals or GPs by explaining the language in plain English

• Prepare for medical appointments by helping you shape questions in a calm, clear way

• Find trusted charities and support organisations in the UK, EU, or US

• Think through how to support someone you love without losing yourself

• It moves at your pace. No pressure to be positive. No pressure to be strong.

Will Diagnosis Companion give me medical advice?

No. Diagnosis Companion does not give medical advice. It will not interpret symptoms, test results, or treatments. It will not suggest what a diagnosis means clinically, and it does not replace your care team. If you ask something medical, it will gently guide you back to the professionals looking after you or your loved one, and help you phrase the question so you feel confident asking them.

Is Diagnosis Companion only for people in the UK?

No. Diagnosis Companion can signpost to trusted organisations in the UK, EU, or US, depending on where you are. It understands that healthcare systems work differently in different places.

How do I start using Diagnosis Companion?

When you click the link we provide, it will take you straight into ChatGPT and you can start using Diagnosis Companion immediately. You can use it for free even if you don't have a paid ChatGPT account. Take your time. There's no rush.

Will Diagnosis Companion remember my situation?

No. Diagnosis Companion is an 'Agent', which means it will not remember you or your situation between conversations. It will not build a profile of you. When your conversation ends, it won't recognise you next time or carry details about you into future chats. However, it will remember what you discuss within the same chat session, so you can have a continuous conversation as long as you need.

Who can see my conversations?

You are the only person who can see your conversations and any information you share. OpenAI (the company that owns ChatGPT) may use your chats in an anonymous way to improve how the system works, but they won't use this to identify you personally.

Can I share sensitive medical or emotional information?

If you need to share sensitive information, it's okay to keep details general and avoid using names, addresses, or anything that could identify you or someone else. Diagnosis Companion can help you work out what's safe to share or reword sensitive information so it feels more comfortable to use. You're in control of what you share.

What if I want it to remember my situation between conversations?

If you want ChatGPT to remember your specific situation over time, you can build your own personalised Agent. To do this, you would need to buy a ChatGPT subscription. Paid accounts give you access to privacy settings that let you control what information is stored and how it's used.

I'm feeling overwhelmed. Where do I start?

That's completely understandable. You're allowed to feel overwhelmed. You're allowed to not know what to do yet. Start wherever feels right - maybe by sharing what feels hardest at the moment, or by uploading a letter you've received that you'd like help understanding. Diagnosis Companion will listen first, and then help you work out what feels most helpful right now. There's no rush, and no wrong place to begin.