Understanding your medical notes
Get your doctor's letter explained in plain English
A letter has arrived — from a consultant, a clinic, or your GP surgery — and after reading it twice you're still not sure what it actually says. That's not you: the letter was almost certainly written to another doctor, and you were copied in. Here's how to make sense of it.
Have the letter in front of you?
Paste it into Patiently AI — or upload a photo, PDF or Word file — and get a clear, plain-English explanation of what it says, plus questions worth asking at your next appointment. Free, no account, and identifying details are removed on your device first.
Explain my doctor's letter → Your text isn't stored. Available on web, iOS & Android.Why doctors' letters are hard to read
Most letters you receive from a hospital or clinic exist to keep your GP informed: the specialist writes to the doctor who referred you, and you receive a copy (look for "cc: patient" at the bottom). Because the intended reader is another clinician, the letter uses professional shorthand — abbreviations, stock phrases, and a formal register that can make even good news sound worrying. Understanding it matters: it's your record of what was found, what was decided, and who is supposed to do what next.
What a doctor's letter usually contains
Formats vary between clinics, but a typical letter often includes:
- Who it's about and why — your details and the reason for the appointment or referral, often after "Re:".
- Diagnosis or problem list — sometimes as a heading at the top, sometimes with "?" marking a suspected rather than confirmed diagnosis.
- What happened at the appointment — your history, examination findings ("o/e"), and any results reviewed.
- The plan — tests ordered, treatment changes, follow-up arrangements, or discharge back to your GP's care.
- Requests to your GP — "I would be grateful if you would…" usually introduces something your GP is being asked to arrange.
- Medication changes — new, stopped or adjusted medicines, often in a list.
Common letter phrases, decoded
| The letter says | What it usually means |
|---|---|
| "Thank you for referring this pleasant 58-year-old…" | A courtesy opening to the referring GP — "pleasant" is convention, not a clinical finding. |
| "I have reassured the patient" | The specialist explained the findings and didn't think further treatment or investigation was needed at that point. |
| "I have discharged them back to your care" | No more specialist appointments are planned; your GP takes over from here. |
| "I would be grateful if you would…" | A request to your GP — for example, to arrange a test, prescription or monitoring. |
| "We will see them again in 6/12" | A follow-up appointment in 6 months (6/52 would be 6 weeks). |
| "o/e unremarkable" | On examination, nothing concerning was found — understatement, not evasion. |
See the difference
Original letter wording
"O/e abdomen soft, non-tender, no organomegaly. Bloods reviewed and stable. I have reassured him and discharged him back to your care; I would be grateful if you would repeat the LFTs in 3/12."
Plain-English version
"The examination of the tummy was normal — soft, not painful to press, and the organs weren't enlarged. The blood results were reviewed and described as stable. The specialist reassured him and ended specialist follow-up, and asks the GP to repeat the liver blood tests in 3 months."
Illustrative example only — not based on a real patient.
Every letter is different — explanations should be too
A phrase guide only goes so far. Patiently AI explains your actual letter, sentence by sentence, in language you choose — and drafts the questions worth asking about it.
Try it with your own letter → Paste, upload, photograph or dictate your letter.Questions you may want to ask after reading your letter
- What is the main finding or conclusion in this letter?
- Has my diagnosis changed, or is it still being investigated?
- Who arranges the next step — the clinic, or my GP?
- Have any of my medications changed, and why?
- Is there anything I need to do, or watch for, before my next appointment?
Patiently AI generates personalised "Questions for your doctor" from your own letter automatically.
Frequently asked questions
Why did I get a copy of a letter written to my GP?
It's standard practice for specialists to write to the doctor who referred you and copy you in — you may see "cc: patient" at the bottom. The letter keeps your GP informed, and copying you in keeps you informed too. Because it's written clinician-to-clinician, though, it often isn't easy for the person it matters most to.
What does "I have reassured the patient" mean in my letter?
It's a standard way of recording that the specialist explained the findings and didn't think further treatment or investigation was needed at that point. Similar stock phrases include "I have discharged them back to your care" (no more specialist appointments planned) and "I would be grateful if you would…" (a request to your GP, for example to arrange a test or prescription).
Can Patiently AI explain my doctor's letter?
Yes. Paste the letter — or upload a photo, PDF or Word file — and Patiently AI explains what it says in plain English, decodes abbreviations like PMH, o/e and 2WW, and suggests questions to ask at your next appointment. It's free, needs no account, and removes identifying details on your device before processing.
Will it tell me whether the letter contains bad news?
It explains what the letter actually says, in clearer words — it doesn't add judgements the letter doesn't make, doesn't diagnose, and doesn't assess how serious or urgent something is. If anything in a letter worries you, the right next step is a conversation with your GP or the team who wrote it.
What if the letter contains a mistake?
Letters can occasionally contain errors — a wrong medication dose, an outdated history, a mix-up in dates. Understanding your letter is the best way to catch these. If something doesn't match your understanding, contact the clinic or your GP practice and ask them to check and correct the record.