Writing to Patients from Rheumatology / Co-production workshops – healthcare professionals

Co-production workshops – healthcare professionals

This study is about the letters rheumatology healthcare professionals write after an outpatient appointment. These are called clinic letters.

National guidance advises healthcare professionals to write these letters directly to patients, but not everyone does. Instead, some members of rheumatology teams write clinic letters to other healthcare professionals, for example, their patients’ GPs. A copy may also be sent to the patients.

We want to develop a set of resources to encourage and support members of rheumatology teams to write directly to patients. To help us do this, we need rheumatology patients and healthcare professionals to join us for a series of workshops to:

  • share views on our study findings;
  • discuss what resources might be needed;
  • work together and with us to draft resources.

Resources could include, a best practice guide, example clinic letters and a glossary of terms with plain English explanations.

We are asking patients to take part in one or more online workshops. Workshops will last between 90 and 120 minutes, and will take place online via videocall (using the Zoom platform).

You can take part if you:

  • currently provide healthcare to patients attending an NHS or HSC rheumatology outpatient department(s) in the UK;
  • as part of routine care, write letters summarising NHS or HSC rheumatology outpatient clinic consultations in the UK (either to the GP or to the patient);
  • can speak English;
  • have capacity (the ability) to provide consent to take part.

Learn more

Take part

If you are interested in taking part, we ask that you complete a screening survey. This will take about 5 minutes.

The screening survey includes questions to make sure you can take part and to help us ensure we invite a wide range of people to take part.

Please complete the screening survey for the co-production workshops – healthcare professionals:

Complete screening survey