ABSTRACT
Communication is the technical term for passing on information. Effective communication occurs when appropriate information is not only passed on, but is seen to be understood and acted upon. Secretaries and receptionists are always conveying urgent and non-urgent messages from patients or other professionals. A memorandum is an internal written communication which may be used to convey short messages and information either to individuals or to all members of the healthcare team. Notice-boards can be used to convey information both internally to the organisation and externally to visitors. Letters are used to communicate with health authorities, National Health Service trusts, health authorities, health boards, medical professionals and patients. Practice information leaflets communicate to patients the services available at the practice and how they may make better use of the primary healthcare service. Patients from ethnic minorities may have difficulty in understanding and speaking the English language.
