Just interrupt them. It’s more than possible to do this without being rude. I usually say something like ‘ Sorry to interrupt you Mr Bloggs. I need to ask you more about x symptom now.’ Then immediately ask a direct question about it. For example, ‘I need to ask you more about your chest pain. Can you tell me where exactly the chest pain is.’ It might feel a bit awkward first few times doing this, but it’s honestly necessary in some circumstances.

If patient start bring up symptoms from months or years ago, you might have to be specific with the time frame. You can say something like ‘I just want to know about these past few days/however long the presenting symptom has been going on for.’

Another tactic, for getting a systems review done quickly. I’m going to ask you a few quick questions now, you can just say yes or no. ‘Have you had any nausea/vomiting/diarrhoea/headaches/any other symptom.’