TIME ALLOWED: READING TIME: 5 MINUTES Task 8 WRITING TIME: 40
MINUTES
Read the case notes below and complete the writing task which follows.
notes:
Today's Date 25.08.12
Patient History James Warden
DOB 05.07.32
Regular patient in your General Practice
09.07.12 Subjective Wants regular check up, has noticed small swelling in right
groin. Hypertension diagnosed 5 years ago, non smoker, regularly drinks 2 – 4
glasses of wine nightly and 1 -2 glasses of scotch at weekend.Widower living on
his own ,likes cooking and says he eats well.Current medication noten 50 mg
daily, ½ aspirin daily, normison 10mg nightly when required, fiftyplus multivitamin
1 daily, allergic reaction to penicillin.
Objective BP 155/85 P 80 regular Cardiovascular and respiratory examination
normal Urinalysis normal Slight swelling in right groin consistent with inguinal
hernia.
Plan Advised reduction of alcohol to 2 glasses maximum daily and at least one
alcohol free day a week. Discussed options re hernia. Patient wants to avoid
surgery. Advised to avoid any heavy lifting and review BP and hernia in 3 months
25.08.12 Subjective Had problem lifting heavy wheelbarrow while gardening. Has
a regular dull ache in right groin, noticed swelling has increased. Has reduced
alcohol intake as suggested.
Objective BP 140/80 P70 regular Marked increase in swelling in right groin and
small swelling in left groin.
Assessment Bilateral inguinal hernia Advise patient you want to refer him to a
surgeon. He agrees but says he wants a local anaesthetic as a friend advised him
he will have less after effects than with general anaesthetic.
Writing Task:
Write a letter addressed to Dr. Glynn Howard, 249 Wickham Tce, Brisbane, 4001
explaining the patient's current condition.
In your answer:
●Expand the relevant case notes into complete sentences
●Do not use note form
●Use correct letter format
The body of your letter should be approximately 200 words. Use correct letter
format
Dr. Glynn Howard,
249 Wickham Tce,
Brisbane, 4001.
Date: 25/08/12
Dear Dr. Howard,
RE: James Warden, D.O.B: 05/07/32
I am referring Mr. Warden, who is diagnosed with bilateral inguinal hernia and needs your evaluation
and treatment.
Mr. Warden is a regular patient of mine. He has been diagnosed with hypertension and is currently
taking noten 50 mg, half Asprin, and fifty plus multivitamin daily along with normison 10 mg nightly as
needed. The patient is allergic to penicillin. He lives alone and consumes alcohol on daily bases.
On 09/07/12, the patient came for a regular check-up after noticing a small swelling in his right groin.
Upon examination, his vitals were normal, but the swelling was consistent with inguinal hernia. He was
presented with options for the hernia, but he refused to have a surgery, on which I advised him to avoid
any kind of heavy lifting, reduce his alcohol intake, and review after 3 months.
Today, the patient followed up with complaint of dull pain in his right groin after trying to lift a heavy
wheelbarrow. Further examination revealed that his right groin swelling had increased and another
small swelling formed on his left groin. He was counselled about the surgery to which he agreed, only if
it is under local anesthesia.
I would be grateful if you review the patient and suggest a course of treatment for him, if there are any
queries please feel free to contact me.
Thank you,
Dr. Qureshi.
