SOME GPs were having to wait up to 140 days after a patient had been discharged to receive letters from hospitals about their treatment, the health board has revealed.

In a recent presentation to Hywel Dda Health Board’s Community Health Council (CHC) – which serves as a watchdog for patients – members heard that GPs were often receiving illegible carbon copies, inadequate letters and out-of-date information from hospitals.

Based on this feedback, the health board has conducted a three-month trial of a new process, designed to speed up the time it takes for hospital discharge papers to reach a patient’s GP.

Led by Dr Richard Gilpin, the pilot, which took place at Withybush Hospital, has seen the average wait for discharge papers drop from 19 to four, with many letters now being sent out on the day of discharge.

However, at present, pharmacies are not always able to authorise medication recommendations on the day of discharge, due to staffing issues, and a “high instance of errors” among junior doctors when writing medication information and dosage.

Members heard that GPs will be brought in to train junior doctors on how to write better letters, and over time it is hoped the new process will apply similarly to outpatients.

The report concluded that Withybush should be in a ‘zero position’ – all letters being produced on the day of discharge - by March.

Board member Chris Jones said GPs having to wait more than 100 days for a letter was “greatly inadequate” and “absolutely appalling”, and welcomed the changes.

A further update will come before the CHC in March or April.