Communication Skills - 2 min read
SCA Consultation Template: A Flexible 12-Minute Structure
Follow a flexible twelve-minute structure from opening and data gathering to a shared plan and safety-netting.
Opening: set the frame quickly
Start with rapport, confirm the reason for the consultation, and invite the patient to explain what matters most. Early agenda setting reduces late surprises and helps you prioritise.
Middle: gather data and respond to cues
Ask focused clinical questions, explore ICE, screen red flags, and respond when the patient gives an emotional or contextual cue. A good template leaves room to follow the patient, not just the disease.
Explanation: make reasoning visible
Summarise what you have heard, explain your working diagnosis or uncertainty, and check understanding. Avoid jumping to management before the patient knows why the plan makes sense.
Close: agree a plan and safety-net specifically
Share options, agree next steps, confirm follow-up, and give specific safety-netting. The close should show clinical safety, patient involvement, and time control.
Review: use the structure as a checklist, not a script
After a practice consultation, check where the structure helped and where it became rigid. The RCGP does not prescribe a preferred consultation model, so adapt the sequence to the patient, the clinical risk and the task in front of you.
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