Passing the MRCS Communication Stations: History Taking, Phone Calls and Information Giving

Communication stations look simple on paper: no specimens and no anatomy. Yet they are where many well-prepared candidates drop marks. The good news is that they reward structure, and structure can be practised.

History taking

• Open well. Introduce yourself, confirm the patient's name and age, and explain what you are going to do.
• Let the patient talk first. An open question at the start often gives you half the history.
• Then be systematic. Presenting complaint, red flags, past medical and surgical history, drugs and allergies, family and social history.
• Ask about ideas, concerns and expectations. Examiners notice when you do, and when you don't.
• Close with a summary and a plan. Offer a differential diagnosis and the next investigations.

Phone calls

Phone call stations test how you refer, hand over or escalate. Use a fixed framework such as SBAR:

• Situation: who you are, who the patient is and why you are calling.
• Background: the relevant history in two or three sentences.
• Assessment: observations, examination findings, results and what you think is going on.
• Recommendation: exactly what you are asking for, and by when.

Before you hang up, read back the agreed plan and confirm what should happen if things change.

Information giving

• Find out what the patient already knows before you explain anything.
• Give information in small chunks, in plain language, without jargon.
• Check understanding as you go: "Can you tell me in your own words what we've discussed?"
• Cover risks honestly, including the option of no treatment.
• Offer written information and a way to ask further questions.

Difficult conversations

Angry patients and relatives come up often. Stay calm, acknowledge the emotion before the facts, apologise where appropriate, never blame colleagues and explain what you will do next. Breaking bad news follows a similar rhythm: prepare, find out what they know, give a warning shot, deliver the news simply, pause, and offer support.

Practise out loud

You cannot learn communication from a book. Rehearse with a partner playing the patient, record yourself, and get feedback from someone who knows the mark sheet. Our communication skills lectures cover each station type, and you can book a one-to-one communication station with an examiner.