Are written responses to some referrals to a general haematology clinic acceptable?
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《英国医生杂志》
1 Department of Haematology, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford OX3 9DU
Correspondence to: T Littlewood tim.littlewood@orh.nhs.uk
Introduction
Selected referrals to a general haematology clinic can be managed by written responses rather than patients being seen in a hospital clinic. The pattern of referrals to the clinic was similar to those referred to Leeds General Infirmary in 1989.1
What is already known on this topic
No published studies of a similar nature could be found
What the study adds
Some patients with abnormalities suggestive of a haematological disorder do not need to be seen in outpatient clinics but can be well managed by a written response to the referring doctor
A weakness of this study is the lack of analysis of the patients' opinions about a written response. Most general practitioners felt that the patient was happy with the strategy, but any follow up study should ascertain this more formally.
We learnt from the small number of unfavourable comments to include a final sentence in all letters stating that if the referring doctor or the patient was not happy with the written response that they would be seen in the clinic. Since completing this study, five of the patients have been re-referred, of whom three were then reviewed in the outpatients clinic.
We are conscious that this system worked well in one discipline, in one hospital in the United Kingdom. Although it may not be applicable in other settings, this system should at least be applicable to some other haematology departments.
This article was posted on bmj.com on 1 October 2004: http://bmj.com/cgi/doi/10.1136/bmj.38253.703553.F7
We thank all the general practitioners who completed and returned questionnaires.
Contributors: TL wrote the written responses and was primarily responsible for writing the paper. AT and LH did the audit. TL is guarantor.
Funding: No additional funding.
Competing interests: None declared.
Ethical approval: Not needed.
References
Wright D, Smith G, Norfolk D, Child A. Sources and types of referral to a haematology department. Health Trends 1992;24: 145-8.(Allison Tso, senior house)
Correspondence to: T Littlewood tim.littlewood@orh.nhs.uk
Introduction
Selected referrals to a general haematology clinic can be managed by written responses rather than patients being seen in a hospital clinic. The pattern of referrals to the clinic was similar to those referred to Leeds General Infirmary in 1989.1
What is already known on this topic
No published studies of a similar nature could be found
What the study adds
Some patients with abnormalities suggestive of a haematological disorder do not need to be seen in outpatient clinics but can be well managed by a written response to the referring doctor
A weakness of this study is the lack of analysis of the patients' opinions about a written response. Most general practitioners felt that the patient was happy with the strategy, but any follow up study should ascertain this more formally.
We learnt from the small number of unfavourable comments to include a final sentence in all letters stating that if the referring doctor or the patient was not happy with the written response that they would be seen in the clinic. Since completing this study, five of the patients have been re-referred, of whom three were then reviewed in the outpatients clinic.
We are conscious that this system worked well in one discipline, in one hospital in the United Kingdom. Although it may not be applicable in other settings, this system should at least be applicable to some other haematology departments.
This article was posted on bmj.com on 1 October 2004: http://bmj.com/cgi/doi/10.1136/bmj.38253.703553.F7
We thank all the general practitioners who completed and returned questionnaires.
Contributors: TL wrote the written responses and was primarily responsible for writing the paper. AT and LH did the audit. TL is guarantor.
Funding: No additional funding.
Competing interests: None declared.
Ethical approval: Not needed.
References
Wright D, Smith G, Norfolk D, Child A. Sources and types of referral to a haematology department. Health Trends 1992;24: 145-8.(Allison Tso, senior house)