Why Is It Important To Look At Referral Letters?

 

Essentially to ensure you are conveying the right amount of information in the appropriate context when communicating with colleagues. Your colleagues cannot make the right decisions without the necessary information. If you're the one who is referring, the onus is on you to put the specialist in the picture. Fair enough statement?

 

 

 

Have You Any Suggestions How We Might Do This?

 

* One way to do it is to look at a minimum of 3 random letters during your GP post with your trainer.

 

* There's a referral assessment tool in the downloads section of this page that you can use to help figure out how good your letters are and how you can make them better.

 

* An alternative way to sitting down with your trainer and looking at the referral letters is to hold weekly practice referrals meeting. The advantage of this is that you'd be exposed to the way other doctors write referral letters (hence learning more good points and common pitfalls). For this to work though, it is essential that members read out their letter as dictated and not to expand on the case before it is read out in its entirety. That helps to decide whether there is enough information placed in the appropriate context. Many practices these days hold referral meetings. If yours doesn't, why not suggest it? Take the lead?

 

* There's lots more stuff (including tutorials and handouts) on this in our online educational resources section. Click on "3.2 PATIENT SAFETY including prescribing, referrals and signifcant events"

 

 

 

 

Yeah, but What Makes A Good Referral Letter?