Letter: Questioning tactics

Yesterday one of my patients visited the practice in a distressed state; he had received a very cleverly worded and presented communication from the Outside Clinic, making it look as if they had taken over NHS Scotland services and he was to book an eye examination with them.

I wonder if other practitioners have had experience of these tactics? The letter had my patient’s name and address on it, and looked very official, as did the accompanying guide, although it was actually incorrect and misleading about entitlements; it said you had to be over 60 and to have had over two years since your last appointment to access the NHS domiciliary service, neither of which is correct. If the Outside Clinic’s argument is they are just advising patients of their rights, the communications might actually make some patients think they are not entitled to an NHS visit when they are.