When you'll write one
An advice letter is set when your role is to recommend rather than to hand over care, for example a pharmacist advising a GP after a medication review, or a clinician advising a patient, parent, carer or school. The reader decides whether and how to act.
Usual readers: general practitioner, patient, parent or carer, school nurse, aged care manager, employer's occupational health service. Purpose verbs: advise on, recommend, suggest, inform you of, request that you consider.
Structure
| Paragraph | Content | Tip |
|---|---|---|
| 1 · Purpose | Who the patient is, why you are writing, and the topic of your advice. | Say 'to advise on…' or 'to recommend…' so the reader knows this letter asks for a decision. |
| 2 · Findings | What you found: the problem, symptoms and relevant observations. | Report only the findings that support your recommendations. |
| 3 · Your assessment | The cause you have identified and why it matters. | Use cautious, professional language: 'is likely to contribute to', not 'is causing'. |
| 4 · Recommendations | Each recommendation clearly, with the patient's own view if it affects the plan. | Phrase recommendations politely but clearly; the reader should be able to act on each one. |
Template (a structure, not sentences to memorise)
[Recipient name, title, address as given] [Today's date from the notes] Dear [title surname], Re: [patient full name], [DOB or age] [Context of contact] + [patient] + [age] + [reason for review] + [advise / recommend] + [topic]. [When and where you saw the patient] + [key findings] + [relevant normal findings]. [Relevant medicines or factors] + [new information discovered] + [your assessment of the likely cause]. [Recommendation 1] + [recommendation 2] + [option for the reader to consider] + [patient's view]. Yours sincerely, [Your role]
Sample advice letter (Pharmacy)
Case: A pharmacist has completed a home medicines review for an 81-year-old woman who has fallen twice. The reader is her GP, who requested the review and will decide on any changes.
Case notes (16 lines)
- Mrs Gwen Rafferty, DOB 14/06/1945 (81 yrs)
- Referred by GP (Dr Elif Demir) for Home Medicines Review after 2 falls in 3 mths
- Home visit 21/10/26
- Lives alone; neighbour checks on her daily
- Both falls at night walking to toilet (urinary urgency); no injuries
- Temazepam 10 mg nocte > 10 yrs
- Oxybutynin started 6 mths ago for urgency
- Also perindopril and atorvastatin; no problems reported
- Buys doxylamine OTC, takes 2–3 nights/week; not previously disclosed to GP
- Reports dry mouth, constipation, drowsy in mornings
- Lying/standing BP 138/82 → 132/80; no significant postural drop
- Uses dose administration aid; packs complete, good adherence
- Expired eye drops found in fridge; disposed of with pt's consent
- Enjoys cryptic crosswords; daughter lives overseas
- Pt keen to reduce sleeping tablet but worried she will not sleep
- Recommend: stop doxylamine; gradual temazepam taper; consider non-anticholinergic alternative to oxybutynin (e.g. mirabegron)
Task: Using the information in the case notes, write a letter to Dr Elif Demir, General Practitioner, Hillcrest Medical Centre, 21 Ridge Road, Hillcrest, advising on changes to Mrs Rafferty's medicines.
Dr Elif Demir
General Practitioner
Hillcrest Medical Centre
21 Ridge Road
Hillcrest
22 October 2026
Dear Dr Demir,
Re: Mrs Gwen Rafferty, DOB 14/06/1945
Thank you for referring Mrs Rafferty, 81, for a Home Medicines Review following two falls in three months. I am writing to advise on changes that may reduce her risk of further falls1.
I visited Mrs Rafferty at home on 21 October. Both falls occurred at night, without injury, while she was walking to the toilet because of urinary urgency. She reports a dry mouth, constipation and morning drowsiness. Her lying and standing blood pressures showed no significant postural drop, and she uses her dose administration aid reliably.
She has taken temazepam 10 mg at night for over ten years, and oxybutynin was started six months ago for urgency. She also buys doxylamine over the counter2 and takes it two or three nights a week. These sedating and anticholinergic medicines are likely to contribute to her falls3 and morning drowsiness.
I would recommend that doxylamine be stopped and that temazepam be reduced gradually over several weeks, with advice on sleep. You may also wish to consider4 replacing oxybutynin with a non-anticholinergic alternative, such as mirabegron. She would like to reduce her sleeping tablet but is worried about poor sleep, so she would value discussing a plan with you5.
Yours sincerely,
[Name]
Consultant Pharmacist
Body: 198 words
Why it works
- “I am writing to advise on changes that may reduce her risk of further falls”: Purpose: names the letter's job (advice) and its goal in the opening paragraph.
- “buys doxylamine over the counter”: Content: the key new finding the GP could not know, stated factually without blame.
- “are likely to contribute to her falls”: Genre and style: a cautious clinical judgement, appropriate when advising a prescriber.
- “You may also wish to consider”: Genre and style: a polite, professional way to recommend while leaving the decision to the GP.
- “she would value discussing a plan with you”: Purpose expanded: adds the patient's view and a clear next step for the reader.
What it leaves out, and why
| Case note | Why it's left out or compressed |
|---|---|
| Expired eye drops found in fridge; disposed of with pt's consent | Already dealt with and unrelated to the falls. |
| Enjoys cryptic crosswords; daughter lives overseas | Personal details that do not affect the medication advice. |
| Also perindopril and atorvastatin; no problems reported | No problems found and no change advised. |
| Lives alone; neighbour checks on her daily | The GP already knows her situation; it does not change the recommendations. |
Useful phrases (adapt, don't copy)
Opening
- I am writing to advise on [topic] for [patient], [age], following [event / review].
- Thank you for referring [patient] for [review]. I am writing to recommend [change].
- Following my assessment of [patient] on [date], I would like to suggest [change].
Linking
- During my visit, [she / he] reported …
- In addition, …
- These findings suggest that …
- This is likely to contribute to …
Closing
- I would recommend that [action].
- You may wish to consider [option].
- [Patient] would value [discussion / support] regarding …
- I would be happy to review [patient] again once [change] has been made.
Mistakes to avoid in a advice letter
| Mistake | Fix |
|---|---|
| Giving orders to a prescriber: 'Stop the temazepam.' | Recommend and leave the decision with the reader: 'I would recommend that…', 'You may wish to consider…'. |
| Writing the advice as a list of problems with no clear recommendation at the end. | Finish with one paragraph that states each recommendation the reader can act on. |
| Using technical terms in an advice letter to a patient or parent. | When the reader is not a health professional, use plain words and explain any necessary term. |
| Blaming the patient: 'She failed to tell her doctor about…'. | State the fact neutrally: 'She also takes doxylamine, bought over the counter.' |
Questions candidates ask
What is an advice letter in OET?
A letter in which you recommend action rather than hand over care. OET lists advice letters alongside referral, transfer and discharge letters. The reader may be another professional, or a patient, parent or carer.
Can an OET advice letter be written to a patient?
Yes. When the reader is a patient, parent or carer, keep the same letter format and clear purpose, but use plain language, explain any medical term and avoid abbreviations.
How do you give recommendations politely in an OET letter?
Use forms such as 'I would recommend that…', 'You may wish to consider…' or 'It may be helpful to…'. They are polite but still clear about what you are asking the reader to do.
How is an advice letter different from a referral letter?
A referral asks the reader to assess or treat the patient. An advice letter gives your own findings and recommendations, and the reader decides whether to act on them.
Other letter types: OET referral letter, OET discharge letter, OET transfer letter, OET update letter. Lessons: Purpose: tell the reader what you need, Tone and the reader.
Sources
Last checked 22 Oct 2026. Rules and prices change: confirm on the official page before you book or apply.
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