Medicine — Advice Letter for Iron Deficiency Anaemia
A GP writes an advice letter to a 44-year-old woman explaining her iron deficiency anaemia, the new oral iron prescription, and the dietary and timing instructions that will make the treatment work. The intermediate challenge is combining clear explanation with practical, patient-actionable advice while keeping the register consistently patient-friendly throughout.
Letter type
Advice
Write to
Patient
Target length
180–200 words
The case notes
Patient: Mrs Sunita Patel, 44 years old
Diagnosis: Iron deficiency anaemia: Hb 95 g/L, ferritin 8 µg/L, microcytic picture on blood film
Likely cause: Heavy menstrual periods (confirmed by gynaecology review — no structural or sinister cause found)
Treatment: Ferrous sulfate 200 mg three times daily with food; reassessed in 6 weeks
Dietary advice: Increase iron-rich foods (red meat, leafy greens, legumes); take the tablet with orange juice (vitamin C aids absorption); avoid tea or coffee within one hour of taking the tablet
Side effects: Constipation, nausea, dark stools — common and harmless; if severe, take the tablet once daily and contact the surgery
Monitoring: Repeat blood test in 6 weeks; continue iron for 3 months after Hb normalises to replenish stores
Gynaecology: Gynaecology outpatient appointment arranged for management of menstrual heaviness
Task: Write an advice letter to Mrs Patel explaining her diagnosis, her iron tablets and the practical steps to make treatment as effective as possible.
Writing task
Write an advice letter to Mrs Patel explaining her diagnosis, her iron tablets and the practical steps to make treatment as effective as possible.
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
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The diagnosis in plain terms and why it matters
A patient who understands the diagnosis is more likely to take the iron consistently and complete the full course. The explanation does not need to be clinical; it needs to be relatable.
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How and when to take the tablets: with food, with orange juice, away from tea and coffee
These three instructions directly determine treatment effectiveness. Absorption is significantly reduced if timing is wrong — this is the most practically important content in the letter.
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Side effects to expect, especially dark stools and constipation
Pre-warning prevents the patient stopping the medicine prematurely. Dark stools alarm patients who are not expecting them and are the most common reason for self-discontinuation.
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The 6-week blood test and why the iron continues for 3 months after Hb normalises
The most common cause of treatment failure is stopping early. Explaining the reason — stores take longer than blood levels to refill — improves adherence.
Leave out
-
The ferritin level and the microcytic picture
The patient needs to know she has iron deficiency anaemia, not the technical result. Clinical numbers without explanation are confusing and wrong register.
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The gynaecology management detail
One sentence confirming a gynaecology appointment is sufficient. The letter's purpose is iron treatment advice; the menstrual management is a parallel track.
Criterion in focus · Conciseness & Clarity
An intermediate advice letter tests whether you can convey clinical reasoning in patient language without losing accuracy. The absorption instructions must be explained, not listed as facts. 'Take your iron tablet with a glass of orange juice, not with tea or coffee' is clear; 'avoid substances that inhibit absorption' is clinical and vague. Precision and plain language must coexist.
Now write the letter — and find out what is blocking your Grade B
Write a 180–200 words advice 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.