Abstract
Aims and MethodTo explore current practice in offering patients copies of correspondence, we audited the documentation of 422 patients of a community mental health team.ResultsDiscussion about copying letters was documented in 194 case notes (46%); older patients and those with medically unexplained physical symptoms were less likely to be offered copies. There were 159 patients (82%) that wanted to receive copies of letters; male gender was associated with declining this option. In 167 (87%) instances the professional completing the form was a psychiatrist.Clinical ImplicationsOlder patients need to be offered the opportunity to receive correspondence. Clinicians should record and substantiate their decision not to offer copies of letters to some patients. Professionals other than psychiatrists should be encouraged to discuss copying letters with patients.
Highlights
The good practice guideline on copying letters to patients specifies that during a consultation, patients should be routinely asked whether they want a copy of any letter written as a result of that consultation, how they want to receive such letters and what is their preferred format for such communication; their wishes should be clearly recorded and respected (Department of Health, 2003)
Files of all current patients in the care of a community mental health team in a suburb south of London were audited in January and February 2005
As there have been concerns about sharing information with patients with some psychiatric diagnoses (Stein et al, 1979; Ross & Lin, 2003), it was expected that patients with a diagnosis of psychotic or personality disorder would be less likely to be offered copies of letters
Summary
Discussion about copying letters was documented in 194 case notes (46%); older patients and those with medically unexplained physical symptoms were less likely to be offered copies. The good practice guideline on copying letters to patients specifies that during a consultation, patients should be routinely asked whether they want a copy of any letter written as a result of that consultation, how they want to receive such letters and what is their preferred format for such communication; their wishes should be clearly recorded and respected (Department of Health, 2003) Exceptions to this rule are instances where sharing information would cause serious harm to the patient or would reveal information provided by a third person who has not consented to disclosure. Patients attending mental health services welcome the opportunity of receiving copies of correspondence (Ash et al, 1991; Marzanski et al, 2005), there have been specific concerns regarding sharing information in psychiatry (Stein et al, 1979; Ross & Lin, 2003) These include stigmatisation and distress associated with a psychiatric diagnosis, and illness-related litigation. Which professionals ask their patients whether they want copies of correspondence?
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