Dietetics — Letter to the GP about a Malnourished Patient
A community dietitian writes to a patient's GP to hand over the nutritional management of an undernourished 76-year-old after weight loss. The case tests dietetics-specific selection: the nutritional assessment and plan must transfer; the wider social narrative should be condensed.
Letter type
Referral
Write to
General Practitioner
Target length
180–200 words
The case notes
Patient: Mrs Margaret Hollis, 76 years old, lives alone
Referral reason: Unintentional weight loss 7 kg over 4 months; referred by GP for dietetic assessment
Assessment: BMI 17.8; MUST score 2 (high risk); reduced appetite; ill-fitting dentures limiting intake
Background: Recent bereavement; cooking and shopping have become difficult
Intervention: Food-first advice given; oral nutritional supplements started twice daily; fortified meals
Progress: 1 kg gain over 3 weeks; tolerating supplements
Plan: Continue supplements for 8 weeks; dietitian to review in 6 weeks; GP to monitor weight and arrange a dental review
Task: Write a letter to the GP, Dr Lowe, summarising the nutritional assessment and the management required in the community.
Writing task
Write a letter to the GP, Dr Lowe, summarising the nutritional assessment and the management required in the community.
What to include, what to cut
The hardest mark to win is selection. The same case notes contain decision-relevant facts and distractors. Here is what an examiner expects to see in a Grade B letter for this scenario, and what should be left out.
Include
-
The objective nutritional status: BMI, MUST score, weight change
These quantify the risk and justify ongoing intervention; they are the dietitian's core contribution.
-
The intervention and early response
Tells the GP what is working so it can continue without interruption.
-
The two actions for the GP: monitor weight, arrange a dental review
The ill-fitting dentures are a treatable cause of poor intake, so the dental referral is decision-relevant.
Leave out
-
The bereavement beyond a brief mention
Relevant as context for reduced intake, but the GP already knows the patient; one line is enough, not a narrative.
-
Detailed food diary entries
Summarise the plan rather than transcribing daily intake; the detail pads the letter without changing the GP's actions.
Criterion in focus · Conciseness & Clarity
Nutrition cases tempt you into social storytelling. The marks come from stating the objective status and the plan concisely. A letter that drifts into the patient's life story loses Conciseness & Clarity even when sympathetic.
Now write the letter — and find out what is blocking your Grade B
Write a 180–200 words referral letter from these notes, paste it into the free checker for an instant read, then submit it for a human grade against all six criteria. Dr Mariam's team returns line-by-line feedback, from $12.