OET Writing practice · Nursing
Parkinson's disease and falls – community occupational therapist
An original practice task written by LetterScore AI. Read the case notes in 5 minutes, then write your referral 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: Mrs Ingrid Halvorsen, DOB 08/04/1949 (77 yrs) Care of the Elderly Ward 5, Linford District Hospital, Linford Admission date: 01/09/2026 Planned discharge date: 12/09/2026 Social background: - Lives with husband (Erik, 80; hard of hearing, back problems, cannot lift) at 27 Larch Street, Linford - 2-storey terraced house: bedroom and only bathroom upstairs (over-bath shower). Steep stairs, 1 rail - Loose rugs in hallway. Small terrier dog that often runs around her feet - Retired piano teacher, still plays daily - Daughter lives 200 km away, phones daily - Attends monthly Parkinson's support group Medical history: - Parkinson's disease (dx 2019): co-careldopa 25/100 mg at 07:00, 11:00, 15:00, 19:00 - Hypertension, amlodipine 5 mg daily - Osteoporosis, alendronic acid weekly - Bilateral cataracts, awaiting surgery (2027) - Hysterectomy 1990 Nursing management and progress: 01/09 Admitted after fall in hallway (tripped on rug while carrying laundry). Bruising L hip and L wrist; X-rays: no fracture. 3rd fall in 2 months (previous: getting up from toilet; at night in bedroom) 02/09 Lying/standing BP 138/80 → 112/68 (postural hypotension). Amlodipine stopped 03/09 UTI → nitrofurantoin 3 days (completed) 04/09 Physio: freezing of gait at doorways and on turning. Walks with 4-wheeled walker + supervision. Stairs with rail + supervision 05/09 Co-careldopa doses delayed twice on ward → increased rigidity; doses now given on time 07/09 Needs assist of 1 to rise from low chair and toilet. Showers seated on shower chair on ward 08/09 Nocturia 2–3×/night. Bedside commode trialled overnight: successful 09/09 Cognitive screen 26/30 10/09 Pt keen to go home but anxious about falling. Husband worried about helping her at night Discharge plan: - Discharge home 12/09 (husband to collect) - Community OT referral (urgent, within 1 wk): home environmental assessment; equipment — raised toilet seat, grab rails, second stair rail, bath board, bedside commode, chair raisers; advice re rugs; personal alarm - Community physio: gait and freezing strategies - Parkinson's nurse review in 3 wks - Co-careldopa at strict times. Amlodipine stopped - Advised to stand up slowly; fluids 2 L/day Writing Task: Using the information in the case notes, write a letter to Mr David Kinsella, Community Occupational Therapist, Linford Community Rehabilitation Team, 9 Abbey Road, Linford, referring Mrs Halvorsen for assessment 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 referral letter
- The reader has never met the patient. State the reason for referral, and how urgent it is, in the first paragraph.
- Select the history, findings and investigation results that support the referral, and group them by topic rather than by date.
- End with what you are asking the reader to do, and any action you have already taken.
Members also get the model answer, the note-selection table and task-specific tips for this task.