It is astonishing how medical technology has advanced during the last decades.

However, despite developments and breakthroughs, one fundamental area lagging behind is communication; from one health provider to another, from one team of health-providers to another and from health-provider to patient /family (WHO 2007). Being a patient safety issue, researchers, at international level, have analysed and made certain feasible recommendations in an attempt to overcome this elementary problem, which has become the leading cause of accidental patient harm (Leonard et al 2004). Some of these recommendations/models have already been mentioned by my colleagues. One common thread linking the majority of suggestions is the use of mnemonics, for example MIST (Mech. of injury/injuries sustained [or suspected]/ patient [problem] Assessment [action]), a favourite amongst ambulance clinicians. Ironically a study by Talbot et al. found that accuracy to recollect was lower on those using the mnemonic, when compared to those who used it (Talbot, et al, 2009). As mentioned earlier, one mnemonic which is growing in popularity is the SBAR (situation, background, assessment, recommendation), initially a tool used in the US Navy, now gathering momentum in the NHS who would like to see it develop as the standard hand-over tool (NHS 2012) Leonard, M. Graham, S. Bonacum, D (2004) The Human factor: the critical importance of effective teamwork and communication in providing a safe care: available online at: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1765783/pdf/v013p00i85.pdf (accessed on 18 March 2012) Talbot, R. Bleetman, A. (2007) Retention of Information by Emergency Department Staff at Ambulance Handover. Available online at: http://emj.bmj.com/content/24/8/539.full.pdf+html (Accessed on 18 March 2012) NHS (2012)Safe Care; Improving Patient Safety: SBAR. Available online at: http://www.institute.nhs.uk/safer_care/safer_care/Situation_Background_Assessmen t_Recommendation.html (Accessed on 18 March 2012)