Dear doctor – tips for GPs on writing referral letters

The separation of primary and secondary care is a feature of British medical practice that does not exist in most other healthcare systems. In Britain, patients are seen by hospital consultants on referral from their GP (except in cases for genitourinary clinics and accident and emergency departments). Where dermatology is concerned, some 500 consultants each receive an average of 2,000 GP referrals per annum, so approximately one million letters are sent each year.