To ask if you think gp’s read letters sent to them

[thedaywewillremeber]

Ds1’s psychiatrist mentioned that his gp would know about a certain thing as he had written his gp a letter. Ds1 said that they probably don’t read letters. I would imagine they are too busy to read everything that comes in.

They read them. Maybe only before you have an appointment, but they definitely do. I've had them from different hospital depts and they've always referenced medication changes etc when I've then seen them.

They do read them.

Generally admin get the post and file it in either the paper records or scan it onto the electronic record. Depending what it is it will be reviewed by the GP but not always there are thousands.

They do read their letters, then they take any necessary action.

Of course they read them. Can you imagine if an important instruction from a specialist was omitted because a letter wasn't read?

I'm sure you are ri

I take it the gp would look at if it involve a change of medication?

IME no. Luckily I read them and take care to adjust my medication appropriately.
However, recently I haven't been getting my copies so I have to beg the surgery or the consultant's secretary for a copy.
My repeat Px list is terribly out of date though.

I'm sure you are right OP.

Yep, I am a GP and I read all the letters. I read literally 50 plus every week plus 100s results lab, radiology reports - some are 10 to 15 pages long. That doesn’t mean that when I have someone in front of me that I remember every detail of a letter I may have read some months ago - I often go through letters again with my patients.

Would it be the named gp who reads them or just any gp in the surgery?

Yes. My last one said the GP should arrange a certain test, which they did.
I don't know how they have the time, but of course they would have to read ad action them.

In most practices in our area the letters go to admin who scan them onto the computer, they are then reviewed by GPs who send it to the practice pharmacist if medication needs amending, to the nurses if the patient needs follow up or to reception if they need calling in

I think mine does. I went to the ER a couple weeks ago, and she called me the following morning to make sure I'd gotten my medication the ER doctor prescribed and asked if I had an questions, and went over my test results with me.