ABSTRACT
This chapter doctors us with a foundation on which to develop their written communication skills. It covers the role of information in the NHS and the use of information technology in clinical medicine and research. It includes writing memos, medical notes, general reports and a curriculum vitae. Communication seems easy enough when we talk to people face to face. Effective writing is the creative use of words in an easily readable form that sends a message from one person to another, accurately and completely. The kind of writing dealt with has nothing to do with pure literature, which is generally written by enthusiasts for themselves, and only rarely considered good enough to be published and shared with others. Good medical records, electronic or handwritten, are essential for the continuity of care of patients. Adequate medical records enable reliable and accurate recall of each patient’s details.
