Patient Communication Skill

Writes patient-facing healthcare communications in plain, accessible language — targeting UK Grade 6 / US Grade 8 reading level.

WARNING: All patient communications must be reviewed and approved by a qualified healthcare professional before sending. This skill produces drafts only.

Required Inputs

• Communication type (appointment letter / results letter / discharge info / patient leaflet / consent info / health education)
• Clinical context
• Key messages (what the patient must understand and do)
• Tone (reassuring / informative / urgent)
• Specific instructions or next steps
• Contact details for queries

Output Structure

Type A: Patient Letter

Date]

Dear Patient name],

Re: Clear subject line in bold]

Opening paragraph: State clearly what this letter is about. No preamble.]

Main content — short paragraphs, 2-3 sentences each. Bullet points for instructions. Bold anything the patient must do or remember.]

What happens next:

• Action 1 — specific with timeframe]
• Action 2]

If you have questions: Contact us at phone] between hours] or email address].

If you feel unwell before your appointment, please specific instruction].

Yours sincerely, Name, Title, Department]

Type B: Patient Information Leaflet

Plain language title]

What is topic]? 2-3 plain English sentences. Explain technical terms immediately.]

Why has this been recommended for me? Personalised clinical reason in patient terms]

What will happen? Numbered step by step]

What are the benefits? Honest statement]

What are the risks? Common first, then rare but serious. Use frequencies: "About 1 in 10 people..." not "10% incidence"]

What should I do to prepare? Specific instructions]

When should I contact someone? Specific signs — not vague. "Temperature above 38C" not "if you feel unwell"]

Type C: Test Results Letter

Your test name] results — Normal / Abnormal] — stated in the FIRST sentence, never paragraph 3.

What this means in plain English]

What happens next: Clear next steps. If no action, say so explicitly.]

Plain Language Rules (apply to all types)

• Maximum 2 syllables per word where possible
• Maximum 20 words per sentence
• Active voice: "We will contact you" not "You will be contacted"
• Spell out all acronyms on first use
• No Latin: "twice daily" not "bd"
• Use "you" and "we" throughout
• Numbers as digits: "2 tablets" not "two tablets"

Quality Checks

• ] Written at or below Grade 8 reading level (short words, short sentences)
• ] Active voice used throughout ("We will contact you" not "You will be contacted")
• ] Results letter states the result in the first sentence
• ] Next steps are specific and include timeframes
• ] No Latin or acronyms without explanation
• ] Disclaimer that clinical review is required before sending

Anti-Patterns

• ] Do not use medical jargon without a plain-English explanation — write for the patient, not the clinician
• ] Do not omit a clear "next steps" section — patients must know exactly what to do after reading
• ] Do not produce final content without flagging that clinical review is required before sending
• ] Do not write above a Grade 8 reading level without a compelling reason — accessibility is the default
• ] Do not include Latin abbreviations (e.g. "p.r.n.", "b.d.") without spelling them out — they are not universally understood

Example Trigger Phrases

• "Write a patient letter about topic]"
• "Create a patient information leaflet for procedure]"
• "Write a plain English results letter for test]"