A DOCTOR has backed new guidance encouraging hospital doctors to write letters that are easier for patients to understand.

Blackburn GP Dr Paul Fourie said the guidance would help create ‘less anxiety’ for patients and allow them to manage their own health better.

The Academy of Medical Royal Colleges said that too often correspondence contains complex medical jargon rather than plain and simple English.

Among the advice given to doctors by The Academy Of Medical Royal Colleges is to ‘use English instead of Latin.’

Using the phrase ‘twice daily’ to explain the dosing of a medicine rather than the Latin abbreviation ‘bd’ is cited as an example of this.

The academy, which speaks on standards of care and medical education across the UK, has also advised doctors to write most of their letters in a style that is direct to patients, rather than to their GPs.

Dr Fourie, of Witton Medical Centre, said: “If patients are given letters that are easier to understand, this has to be beneficial for them.

“Currently, a consultant will write a letter to their GP and then the patient will have that information passed onto them.

“A lot of the information in the letter can be confusing and create anxiety for the patient as they don’t understand the content.

“I think more clearly written letters will create less anxiety for patients and allow them to manage their own health better. "

The Academy of Medical Royal Colleges has issued the guidelines in an effort to better inform patients, give them reassurance and avoid confusion, mistakes or offence.

Hospital trusts have been encouraged to support the initiative and provide help and training to all who need it.

There are more than five million outpatient visits a month in England alone, producing a vast number of notes that are usually sent back to family doctors.

Doctors’ letters must meet clinical requirements set by the Professional Record Standards Body, although the academy has launched the Please Write to Me initiative to improve patients’ understanding of the notes.

The guidance reads: “Communicating effectively with patients is central to being a good doctor."

“Writing an outpatient clinic letter directly to the patient, rather than sending them a copy of a letter sent to their GP, can greatly improve communication with a patient.

“Patients who receive such letters much prefer them, are very appreciative, and would like more doctors to write them in this way.”

The Royal College of GPs has also welcomed the new advice on ‘jargon-free’ communication with patients.

Vice chairman Kamila Hawthorne said: “I have seen a number of patients who have asked me to ‘translate’ the letter they have received from the hospital, which has been little more than a medical summary.

“This is a really important change to the way doctors communicate with patients, and I’m pleased that through the academy the concept has gained support from all specialties – it’s now important to get the message out to healthcare professionals across the NHS, and start the wheels in motion.”