Hospitals do not inform GPs about medication that should be monitored

Abstract

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.