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Original papers: Jenny Dale, George Tadros, Susan Adams, and Nikhila Deshpande Do patients really want copies of their GP letters? A questionnaire survey of older adults and their carers Psychiatr Bull 2004; 28: 199-200 [Abstract] [Full text] [PDF]

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Empathy and training in letter writing needed

Parijaat Vaidya   (8 July 2004)

Empathy and training in letter writing needed 8 July 2004
Parijaat Vaidya, SHO (Psychiatry) Sheffield Care Trust Send letter to journal: Re: Empathy and training in letter writing needed parijaatvaidya{at}doctors.org.uk Parijaat Vaidya	Dale et al raise the topical issue about writing separate letters to patients. It is important to recognise that, increasingly, such letters will assume a role in the therapeutic relationship between a psychiatrist and his/her patient. Therefore, letters to patients should be clear and empathic. Hopefully, this will lead to better engagement with services resulting in increased collaboration in treatment. It is also important to recognise that training needs to be available to make writing letters to patients a safe practice devoid of mutual suspicion. Such training will need to be incorporated within an SHO/ SpR training programme at the earliest. Particular attention would need to be paid to training needs for those whose first language is not English. Dr. P Vaidya SHO Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services, 11, Union Road, Sheffield S11 9EF parijaatvaidya@doctors.org.uk