OET Writing practice · Nursing
Preterm baby going home – health visitor
An original practice task written by LetterScore AI. Read the case notes in 5 minutes, then write your discharge letter in 40 minutes, about 180–200 words in the body.
Write this letter and get feedback
Case notes
NURSING — WRITING TASK (practice) Time allowed: Reading time 5 minutes, Writing time 40 minutes Read the case notes below and complete the writing task which follows. Notes: Today's date: 11/09/2026 Patient: Baby Mateo Silva, DOB 04/08/2026 (born at 32+3 weeks; corrected age today 37+6 weeks) Special Care Baby Unit, St Aldhelm's Hospital, Wexcombe Admission date: 04/08/2026 Discharge date: 11/09/2026 Social background: - Parents: Ana (29, dental nurse, on maternity leave) and Rafael (31, chef, works night shifts). First baby - Live in 2nd-floor flat with lift, 4 Harbour View, Wexcombe - Maternal grandmother visiting from Portugal until end of October - Rafael smokes approx. 10/day (outside only). Family has a cat Birth history: - Emergency caesarean section for maternal pre-eclampsia. Birth weight 1,720 g. Apgars 7 and 9 - Mother: BP now normal, antihypertensives stopped 20/08 - Blood group O positive Nursing management and progress: 04/08 CPAP 48 hrs for mild respiratory distress; in air from 06/08. IV dextrose, then NG feeds with expressed breast milk (EBM) 05/08–08/08 Jaundice → phototherapy, resolved 10/08 Cranial ultrasound: normal 18/08 Cue-based breastfeeding started; EBM top-ups via NG 25/08 Moved to open cot; temperature stable 30/08 One brief bradycardia during feed, self-resolved; no further episodes 01/09 Newborn hearing screen: passed both ears 02/09 NG tube removed. Breastfeeding 3-hrly + 30 mL EBM by bottle after 3 feeds/day 04/09 Sodium feredetate 1 mL daily and vitamin D 400 IU daily commenced 05/09 Ana anxious about milk supply; expressing 6×/day. Lactation consultant: good latch and effective suck 08/09 Both parents completed infant CPR session 09/09 Car seat check completed. 24-hr rooming-in with parents: successful 10/09 Wt 2,480 g (gaining approx. 30 g/day). Head circumference 32.5 cm Discharge plan: - Breastfeed on demand, at least 3-hrly (no gap longer than 4 hrs); 30 mL EBM top-ups ×3/day, to be reviewed by health visitor - Continue vitamin D and sodium feredetate - Weekly weight for 4 wks - Safe sleep advice given; smoke-free home discussed, Rafael given stop-smoking information - 8-week immunisations due 29/09 at GP (chronological age) - Neonatal outpatient clinic 09/10/2026 Writing Task: Using the information in the case notes, write a letter to Ms Rebecca Thornton, Health Visitor, Wexcombe Child and Family Health Centre, 3 Mill Lane, Wexcombe, who will be following up Mateo and his family at home. In your answer: - Expand the relevant notes into complete sentences - Do not use note form - Use letter format The body of the letter should be approximately 180–200 words.
How to approach this discharge letter
- The reader takes over care after discharge. Open with who the patient is, why they were in hospital and that they are going home, then say what you need the reader to do.
- Give the current condition, medication changes and the follow-up plan. Summarise the hospital stay instead of retelling it day by day.
- Leave out resolved problems and background that does not change care at home.
Members also get the model answer, the note-selection table and task-specific tips for this task.