OET Rx (Student Pre-Class)

Lesson 14: Basics of a Simple Referral Letter

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Course Progress

Overall Progress Lesson 14 of 100

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Part 1: Lesson Objectives

By the end of this lesson, you will be able to:

Understand the purpose and standard structure of a medical referral letter.
Identify the key information that must be included in each section.
Use formal and professional language appropriate for corresponding with a specialist.
Practice writing a clear and concise reason for referral.

Lesson Video

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This video will be available for the offline course version.

Part 2: Vocabulary & Examples

Study the words, their pronunciations, Persian translations, and example sentences to understand how they are used in context.

General Vocabulary

finish /ˈfɪnɪʃ/:

تمام کردن

After you finish your course of antibiotics, we will re-evaluate your condition to see if a referral is still needed.

firm /fɜːm/:

قطعی

Although I do not have a firm diagnosis, the symptoms are concerning enough to warrant a specialist opinion.

first /fɜːst/:

اولین

In the first paragraph of your letter, you must clearly state the reason for the referral.

fit /fɪt/:

مناسب بودن

The patient's symptoms fit the criteria for a referral to the rheumatology department.

fix /fɪks/:

ترتیب دادن

Could your office please contact mine to fix an appointment for this patient at your earliest convenience?

flow /floʊ/:

جریان

To ensure a logical flow, structure your letter with the patient's history presented in chronological order.

focus /ˈfoʊkəs/:

تمرکز

The main focus of this referral letter should be on the patient's neurological symptoms.

follow /ˈfɒloʊ/:

پیگیری کردن

The specialist will follow up with the patient directly after the consultation.

following /ˈfɒloʊɪŋ/:

به دنبال

Following my examination, I believe the patient would benefit from your expert assessment.

force (v.) /fɔːs/:

مجبور کردن

The rapid decline in his health will force me to make this an urgent referral.

forget /fəˈɡet/:

فراموش کردن

Do not forget to include the patient's full contact details in the referral letter.

form (n.) /fɔːm/:

فرم

Please ensure the referral is written in the standard business letter form.

formal /ˈfɔːml/:

رسمی

A referral letter is a formal document, so you must use polite and professional language.

former /ˈfɔːmər/:

قبلی

The patient's former GP retired, so I do not have access to his older medical records.

forward (v.) /ˈfɔːwəd/:

ارسال کردن

I will forward the results of his recent blood tests as soon as they are available.

frame (time) /freɪm/:

بازه زمانی

We need to see this patient within a two-week time frame.

frequently /ˈfriːkwəntli/:

به طور مکرر

As the patient frequently misses appointments, please emphasize the importance of this consultation.

full /fʊl/:

کامل

Please find the full details of the patient's history and my examination findings below.

fully /ˈfʊli/:

به طور کامل

I am not fully equipped to manage this complex condition in my clinic.

function (n.) /ˈfʌŋkʃn/:

عملکرد

His recent blood tests show a decline in renal function, which is the reason for this referral.

further /ˈfɜːðər/:

بیشتر

Please do not hesitate to contact me if you require any further information.

future /ˈfjuːtʃər/:

آینده

Your input will be invaluable for the patient's future management.

Medical Vocabulary

Action Required /ˈækʃən rɪˈkwaɪərd/:

اقدام مورد نیاز

The action required section of the letter clearly stated: "Your expert assessment and advice on management would be appreciated."

Background /ˈbækɡraʊnd/:

زمینه

I have included a brief summary of his medical background, which includes a history of hypertension.

Closing /ˈkloʊzɪŋ/:

پایان

A professional closing such as "Yours sincerely," should be used when you know the recipient's name.

Management to Date /ˈmænɪdʒmənt tuː deɪt/:

مدیریت تا به امروز

His management to date has consisted of a course of oral antibiotics, which unfortunately did not resolve the symptoms.

Provisional Diagnosis /prəˈvɪʒənl ˌdaɪəɡˈnoʊsɪs/:

تشخیص اولیه

My provisional diagnosis is inflammatory bowel disease, but I would be grateful for your expert opinion to confirm this.

Reason for Referral /ˈriːzn fər rɪˈfɜːrəl/:

دلیل ارجاع

The reason for referral is the patient's persistent, unexplained weight loss despite a normal appetite.

Recipient /rɪˈsɪpiənt/:

گیرنده

You must ensure all the recipient's details, including their title and address, are correct at the top of the letter.

Referral Letter /rɪˈfɜːrəl ˈletər/:

نامه ارجاع

This referral letter provides all the necessary background information for your consultation with the patient.

Salutation /ˌsæljəˈteɪʃn/:

درود

The standard salutation is "Dear Dr. [Last Name],".

Urgency /ˈɜːrdʒənsi/:

فوریت

Due to the nature of the symptoms, the urgency of this referral is high, and I would appreciate it if the patient could be seen this week.

Part 3: Pre-Class Practice Tests

Reading Task (Interdisciplinary Context: Nursing):

Article: Effective Referrals from Community Nursing to Social Services

When a community nurse identifies that a patient has significant social care needs, a formal referral letter to the local social services department is required. Unlike a clinical referral, the focus is not on a provisional diagnosis, but on the patient's daily function and home environment. The reason for referral must be stated clearly in the first paragraph; for example, "I am writing to request an urgent social care assessment for this patient due to a recent decline in their mobility and self-care." The background section should detail the patient's living situation and the specific difficulties observed. The "action required" is usually a request for an official assessment of needs. A well-written letter ensures the recipient fully understands the urgency and can allocate resources appropriately.

Question: What is the primary focus of a community nurse's referral letter to social services?

Listening Task (Part B Simulation):

Scenario: You will hear a junior doctor asking a senior colleague for advice about writing a referral letter.

0:00

Task: What does the senior doctor say is the most important part of the referral letter?

Part 4: Answer Key for Pre-Class Work

Reading Answer: b) The patient's ability to manage daily tasks and their home situation.

Listening Answer: c) A clear and concise reason for the referral.

Part 5: In-Class Preparation

Be prepared to discuss the vocabulary and practice the following tasks in class.

Speaking Task: OET Role-Play Card (Medicine)

Setting: A GP's office.
Patient: A 30-year-old patient who has a suspicious skin lesion on their back that you believe needs to be seen by a specialist.
Task: Explain to the patient that you have examined the lesion. State that while you believe it is likely benign, it has some features that require an expert opinion. Explain that you are going to write a referral letter to a dermatologist (a skin specialist). Briefly tell the patient what information you will include in the letter. Reassure the patient and explain the next steps.

Writing Task:

Case Notes: Patient: Ms. Sarah Jones, DOB: 12/05/1995. Subjective: Attended for routine check-up. Mentioned a mole on her back she is worried about. No pain or itching. Noticed it has gotten slightly darker over the past 6 months. Objective: On inspection of the posterior thorax, there is a 7mm, irregular-bordered, dark brown macule. Some variation in color noted. Assessment: Suspicious pigmented lesion. Needs urgent dermatological assessment to rule out melanoma. Plan: Refer to Dermatology under the "2-week wait" pathway.
Task: Based on the case notes above, write a formal referral letter of 180-200 words to the Dermatology Department at City Hospital.

Proceed to Lesson 15

OET Rx

In this lesson, you will be able to: