I’ve found that patients need to discuss their time in hospital to help them process the experience, both emotionally and cognitively.

It also provides invaluable information to the GP, whose knowledge of the event may vary from complete ignorance to a comprehensive understanding, with the timely arrival of a well-written discharge letter.

Hospitalisation is often a tumultuous period with many participants involved and plenty of opportunity for misunderstandings and miscommunication, puzzlement, frustration and exasperation.

Sometimes, I’ve found that the patient has no idea at all what the admission was about.