REFERRALS AND LETTER WRITING

Question 1

When do you refer?

Answer 1

When you don’t know what to doWhen there’s something that’s very worryingWhen you mess something upWhen the patient wants another opinionWhen guidelines tell you to

Question 2

How do you refer

Answer 2

Electronically by standard form
Letter
Phone
Secure email
Combination
999

Question 3

When making an urgent referral what is it important to state?

Answer 3

State plainly why

Question 4

What are the degrees of urgency?

Answer 4

Cancer is suspected
Potentially airway threatening swelling
Life threatening sepsis
Medical emergency in surgery
Major adult/child protection issue
Suicide risk

Question 5

Who’d o you refer to?

Answer 5

Dental HospitalDistrict General HospitalAnother GDPPrivate dental specialistGeneral Medical PractitionerOther health professionalMedical SpecialistFIND OUT ABOUT LOCAL REFERRAL PATHWAYS & CRITERIA

Question 6

What are the key features of a referral letter?

Answer 6

Contact details of patientAre you looking for advice only or treatment?State priorityCompact summary of major issues & historyRELEVANT social/medical historyAny other concerns you may have

Question 7

What is important to remember when writing a referral letter?

Answer 7

Copy anyone else in?
Don’t blame
Keep it courteous
The letter may be seen by others

Question 8

What is important to remember when writing to patients?

Answer 8

Plain LanguageGood part of consent processUseful for complex optionsWhen they won’t take your adviceGood for giving oral health advice