Prompt: Annual Review Summary Letter to Patient

Use this prompt to draft a short summary letter to send directly to a patient after their annual or 6-monthly review. Replace the items in {{double curly brackets}} with your own details.

Never paste real patient names, dates of birth, NHS numbers, or any other identifying information into an AI tool.

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The Prompt

Draft a short summary letter to send to a patient after their annual review. The patient is a {{patient_age}}-year-old with {{condition}}.

Key points covered at today's review:
- {{point_1 — e.g. "blood sugar control has improved since last visit"}}
- {{point_2 — e.g. "we discussed adjusting the timing of medication"}}
- {{point_3 — e.g. "eye screening is up to date; foot examination was normal"}}

Plan agreed:
- {{plan — e.g. "continue current approach, repeat blood tests in 3 months"}}

Next appointment: {{next_appointment_timeframe — e.g. "in 6 months" or "in approximately 12 months"}}

Write in plain English, addressed directly to the patient using "you". Warm but professional tone. Short paragraphs. Around 200 words. Do not include specific drug doses.

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Why This Works

Summary letters to patients after complex annual reviews improve recall — patients leave clinic having heard a lot and often retain very little. A short written summary gives them something to refer back to at home. Writing directly to the patient ("you") rather than copying the GP letter format makes the letter feel personal and accessible, not clinical and distant.

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How to Tweak It

• Add "The patient expressed a specific concern about {{concern}} during the appointment — please acknowledge this briefly near the start of the letter" to open with what mattered most to them.
• Add "End with a brief encouraging note acknowledging their progress with {{lifestyle_change — e.g. 'reducing portion sizes' or 'increasing daily activity'}}" to positively reinforce behaviour change discussed in the consultation.

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