Hospitals do not inform GPs about medication that should be monitored.

BACKGROUND

General practitioners are now asked to prescribe drugs that, due to possible risks and side effects, had previously been prescribed almost exclusively at hospital.

OBJECTIVE

To assess the quality of hospital letters as the key communication between hospitals and GPs.

METHOD

Hospital letters examined using a predetermined protocol.

RESULTS

Of 224 patients identified who were taking drugs that required regular monitoring, 173 were commenced in hospital. Fewer than one in five (30; 17%) hospital letters indicated that there was a risk associated with the drug or that it should be routinely monitored. Monitoring frequency was identified on only 14 occasions and the majority of letters (129; 74. 6%) did not state who was to be responsible for ongoing monitoring (either GP or hospital). Information was slow to arrive at the practice and, in 12% of cases, the hospital letter had not arrived within 14 days of commencement of medication.

CONCLUSION

The information provided in hospital letters is insufficient to allow GPs to put structures in place to monitor drug therapy.