Gynaecological referrals to Baragwanath Hospital

Three hundred and fifty-nine consecutive referral letters to Baragwanath Hospital's gynaecological outpatients' department were analysed. Letters from private doctors contained significantly less clinical information than those from clinics. Only 11% of referring private doctors mentioned what treatment they had given patients before sending them to hospital. Soweto clinic nurses tended to include more information in their letters than clinic doctors. There were no significant differences in the number of appropriate referrals and incorrect diagnoses from private doctors, clinic doctors and clinic nurses respectively. The poor communication, especially between general practitioners and the hospital, is probably the result of overwork and lack of time. Hospital doctors should reply to well-written referral letters, and liaison between clinics and the hospital ought to be improved and expanded.