OET letter for a patient with Parkinson's disease: writing medicine times, mobility and swallowing
In an OET Nursing letter about a patient with Parkinson's disease, state the reason for the letter first, then give the details the reader must act on: the medicine schedule with exact times if the case notes stress them, any recent problem linked to missed or late doses, mobility and falls risk, swallowing, and the support the patient needs. Copy medicine names, doses and times exactly from the notes and leave out details that do not change the reader's care.
Why medicine timing can be the main point
In many patient letters, medicine names and doses are background. In a Parkinson's case, the case notes may make timing the central issue: a patient who becomes stiff, slow or unable to swallow after a late dose, a care home that needs to give doses at set times, or a carer who manages a complicated schedule. When the notes point in that direction, timing details become relevant content, not clutter.
When the notes do not raise timing, treat the medicines as you would in any letter: name, dose and frequency as written. For the general rule, see how to write medications in an OET letter.
Accuracy note: this guide is about writing, not Parkinson's treatment. Copy medicine names, doses and times exactly from the case notes. Do not add timing advice, medicine changes or warnings the notes do not contain.
What to include and what to leave out
| Usually include | Usually leave out (unless it changes care) |
|---|---|
| Reason for the letter and main request | The year of diagnosis in detail, if nothing depends on it |
| Medicine schedule with times, if the notes stress timing | Full medicine history from years ago |
| Recent problem linked to late or missed doses | Every observation taken on the ward |
| Mobility aids, falls, and assistance needed | Hobbies with no bearing on care |
| Swallowing problems, diet texture, how tablets are taken | Names of every staff member involved |
| Speech or communication changes that affect care | Explanations of the disease for a clinical reader |
| Carer, partner or care home support | Social details with no effect on the plan |
| Follow-up appointments and who to contact | Advice not in the notes |
How to write medicine times clearly
Times in a letter must be unambiguous. Use one consistent format (for example "8 am" or "08:00") and keep it the same throughout. See dates and times in OET letters.
| Unclear | Clear |
|---|---|
| "Meds QDS, important." | "She takes her Parkinson's medicine four times a day, at 7 am, 11 am, 3 pm and 7 pm, and these times should be kept." |
| "Doses late x2 → rigid." | "On two occasions her dose was given late, and she became noticeably stiffer afterwards." |
| "Sinemet as charted." | "Her current medicines and times are listed on the enclosed medication chart." |
| "Can't swallow tabs sometimes." | "She sometimes has difficulty swallowing tablets, particularly when a dose is late." |
If there are several medicines with different times, a short list inside the letter is acceptable and easier to follow than one long sentence. Keep the rest of the letter in paragraphs.
Wording sensitive facts neutrally
A Parkinson's letter may report delayed doses in hospital, a fall at home, or a carer who is struggling. Report facts, not judgements.
- "During admission, two doses were delayed, which was followed by increased stiffness." (not "Staff failed to give her medicine.")
- "Her husband reports finding it increasingly difficult to help her at night." (not "Her husband cannot cope.")
For more, see writing about non-adherence and sensitive information.
Paragraph plan for a transfer to a care home
- Purpose: patient, transfer date, and main request (for example keeping medicine times).
- Background: the reason for admission and what happened.
- Medicines: schedule and times, and why timing matters for this patient.
- Function: mobility, falls, swallowing and diet, communication.
- Request: what staff should do, follow-up appointments, contact.
For transfer letters to aged care in general, see transfer letter to an aged care facility.
Worked example (invented case)
Notes (invented): Mr Tomasz Bielecki, 76. Parkinson's disease 9 years. Admitted 3 Jul after fall at home, no fracture. During admission, 2 doses given > 1 hr late → increased rigidity, difficulty swallowing tablets; resolved when doses on time. Medicines: Parkinson's medicine at 6 am, 10 am, 2 pm, 6 pm, 10 pm (chart enclosed). Physio: walks with 4-wheeled frame, supervision on stairs, 1 assist for transfers. Speech pathologist: soft diet, tablets with yoghurt. Wife, 74, main carer, finding nights difficult; family agreed on care home. Transfer to Willow Court 10 Jul. Neurology review 24 Jul. Retired engineer. Enjoys chess.
Letter body:
I am writing regarding Mr Bielecki, aged 76, who is being transferred to your facility on 10 July. It is important that his Parkinson's medicine is given at the prescribed times.
Mr Bielecki has had Parkinson's disease for nine years. He was admitted on 3 July after a fall at home, in which he sustained no fracture.
He takes his Parkinson's medicine five times a day, at 6 am, 10 am, 2 pm, 6 pm and 10 pm, as shown on the enclosed chart. During his admission, two doses were given more than an hour late, after which he became stiffer and had difficulty swallowing his tablets. These symptoms resolved once his doses were given on time.
Mr Bielecki walks with a four-wheeled frame. He needs supervision on stairs and the assistance of one person for transfers. Following a swallowing assessment, he is on a soft diet and takes his tablets with yoghurt.
His wife, who has been his main carer, has found caring for him at night increasingly difficult.
I would be grateful if you could ensure that his medicines are given at the times listed. He has a neurology review on 24 July.
The letter omits his former job and chess. It keeps the late-dose episode because it explains why the request matters. Every time and clinical detail comes from the invented notes.
Common mistakes
- Burying the timing request. If timing is the point, put it in the first paragraph and repeat it in the request.
- Mixing time formats. "6am", "14:00" and "ten at night" in one letter look careless.
- Copying arrows and abbreviations. "> 1 hr late → rigidity" must become a sentence.
- Adding clinical advice. Do not explain how the medicine works or suggest changes.
- Ignoring swallowing. If the notes mention a modified diet, the receiving staff need it.
Also see falls risk and mobility letters and the Content criterion.
Practise and check
Practise a timed letter at /writing/, or check a letter you have written to get an estimated grade, a mark for each criterion and line-by-line corrections. medEmu is an independent practice tool for OET Writing for Nursing; its grades are estimates, and it is not affiliated with OET.
Sources
This guide is medEmu's writing advice, not official OET guidance and not clinical advice; all patients, medicines, times and plans are invented for practice, and a real letter must follow the case notes. The network used for this run could not reach oet.com, so no OET test facts are stated beyond the criterion names. For OET's official Writing information, see oet.com.