Computers make the transfer of information all too easy, and I am pleased that Pulse has given publicity to an initiative by Bromley LMC and our colleagues in the CCG that should reduce the risk of inappropriate patient detail being shared by GPs using referral templates (‘Warning on referral letters with "inappropriate" history', www.pulsetoday.co.uk/news).
However, I would welcome the chance to point out that the LMC has no evidence that GPs commonly (or indeed ever) include detail of ‘parasuicides or abortions from 30 years ago when referring a frozen shoulder'.
This example was purely illustrative and chosen to make GPs think about the consequences of their actions.
From Dr James Heathcote, Secretary, Bromley LMC
