Prompt: Starting Haemodialysis — Patient Information Letter

Starting Haemodialysis — Patient Information Letter

Use this prompt to draft a practical information letter for a patient approaching or starting haemodialysis. This letter covers what to expect and how life changes practically.

Draft a patient information letter about starting haemodialysis 
for a patient aged [[patient_age — e.g. "65"]].

Cover:
- What haemodialysis is in plain English (blood is cleaned outside 
  the body through a machine, usually three times a week)
- What a typical session involves: attending the unit, connecting 
  to the machine, duration [[session_duration — e.g. "approximately 
  4 hours per session"]], feeling tired afterwards
- The importance of attending all sessions — missing sessions has 
  real consequences for how they feel
- Practical daily life: dietary and fluid restrictions remain 
  important (potassium, phosphate, fluid between sessions)
- Access — brief mention that the access used to connect to the 
  machine (fistula, graft, or line) will be discussed separately 
  with the team
- How to prepare for sessions: what to bring, what to wear 
  (comfortable clothing, accessible arm)
- What might happen in early sessions: some people feel unwell 
  during or after early sessions as the body adjusts
- Who to contact with questions or concerns

Do not include specific drug names or dietary thresholds. 
Tone: practical and honest without being alarming. Maximum 450 words.

Why this works

Honest preparation — including that early sessions can be difficult — reduces the shock when a patient feels unwell after their first dialysis. Patients who are warned about the adjustment period are less likely to disengage or assume something has gone wrong. The explicit acknowledgment of the importance of attending all sessions frames attendance as a clinical priority from the outset.

How to tweak it

• For a patient with a fistula, add: "Include a short section on caring for the fistula — keeping it clean, reporting unusual pain or swelling, and not having blood pressure or blood tests taken from that arm."
• For a patient who is anxious about dialysis and has asked what it feels like, add: "Include a brief, honest description of what most people experience during a session — some people doze, watch television, or read; others feel cold or slightly unwell. Frame the range of experiences honestly."

Remember: AI is a helpful assistant, not a clinician. You make the call.