7 OET Nursing Referral Letter Phrases That Score Band A

Writing referral letters for the OET can feel overwhelming — but the highest-scoring candidates all share one thing: they use precise, professional phrases that examiners instantly recognise as Band A quality.

Here are 7 phrases you should memorise:

1. Opening Purpose

"I am writing to refer [patient name] for your ongoing management of..."

This immediately signals the letter's intent. Avoid vague openings like "I am writing about a patient."

2. Background Summary

"[Patient name] is a [age]-year-old [gender] who was admitted on [date] with a diagnosis of..."

Concise, structured, and hits every detail the reader needs.

3. Clinical Findings

"On assessment, the patient was found to have..."

Professional and objective — avoids informal language like "the patient had."

4. Treatment Provided

"During the course of admission, the patient received..."

Shows chronological awareness without unnecessary detail.

5. Current Status

"At the time of discharge, the patient's condition had stabilised with..."

Demonstrates clinical judgment and outcome awareness.

6. Requesting Action

"I would appreciate it if you could arrange for..."

Polite, direct, and appropriately formal for inter-professional communication.

7. Closing With Urgency

"Please do not hesitate to contact me should you require any further information."

The gold-standard closing phrase for OET referral letters.

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Want the full system? Our course covers 100+ phrases across every referral scenario — discharge, transfer, specialist referral, and post-op follow-up — with complete model letters and a mock exam.

Master these phrases, and you'll write referral letters that sound like a seasoned professional. 🩺