Part B

In this part of the test, there are six short extracts relating to the work of health professionals. For questions 1–6, choose answer (A, B, or C) which you think fits the best according to the text. In the actual OET Reading test you have 45 minutes to do Parts A and B. Try to complete these section within 45 minutes.

Email: All Staff
Subject: Standardisation of medical emergency and resuscitation equipment
Dear staff,
Standardised medical emergency and resuscitation equipment has now been distributed to all departments. The resuscitation bag is bright orange and is located within the department, and should be accessible to all members of staff. Documentation relating to the standardisation of equipment can be found on the intranet and Resuscitation Team webpage along with a downloadable location plan for each department.

The equipment within the bag is standardised across the Trust. The responsibility for the contents of the bag is outsourced: the contracted company will audit, restock, and replace items as required. Please note, however, that a designated member of health staff will be required each morning to confirm that the bag is sealed and tag in place, the defibrillator has a green tick symbol, and that the oxygen cylinder displays that it is in the green area.

1. This email to hospital staff about medical emergency and resuscitation equipment includes information about…

Read the text and choose answer (A, B, or C) which you think fits the best according to the text.

Memo: Inhaler Shortages

At present there is significant demand in the supply chain for respiratory inhaler products and this is leading to wholesalers being out of stock. We appeal to all healthcare professionals involved in prescribing inhalers to help maintain supply by continuing to write monthly repeat prescriptions rather than writing a prescription for several months, and to ensure the prescription duration corresponds to dosage and number of doses in inhaler. Encourage patients not to stockpile inhalers at home and to order their prescriptions as per the advice of their medical practice. Discuss with those patients who have not ordered a repeat prescription for an inhaler for more than four months if this is still clinically required. It is important that good inhaler control is maintained, especially for our asthma patients, and patients should be assessed on an individual basis

2. This memo about respiratory inhaler products tells prescribers to make sure that…

Read the text and choose the answer (A, B, or C) which you think fits the best according to the text.

Memo: New Waste Segregation Policy

Historically, many healthcare staff have segregated all waste as infectious in an attempt to be extra cautious (a ‘just in case scenario’), because of a limited provision of segregation options (containers), or because there is a lack of confidence in making decisions on waste classification. Staff are encouraged to use the assessment framework in the attached guide to support their decision making on the segregation of waste, and reduce any need for a default infectious waste position to be in place. One of the main reasons for separating out the offensive (hygiene) waste stream is to reduce environmental impact. Segregating your waste correctly is also a legal requirement. Segregating waste into the offensive waste stream does not place the public or other healthcare workers at increased risk, even if the waste contains non-infectious faeces, urine or blood and body fluids from a screened population.

3. The memo to healthcare staff about a new waste management policy…

Read the text and choose answer (A, B, or C) which you think fits the best according to the text.

Emergency ophthalmology: policy statement

This hospital does not offer emergency comprehensive ophthalmology coverage, however, ophthalmologists will provide inpatient consultation daily between 8am to 10pm for patients admitted to the hospital or the Clinical Decision Unit (CDU) of the Emergency Department (ED). They will provide follow-up care for patients treated by ED staff who do not have their own ophthalmologist, and will manage multi-trauma patients with eye injuries. Emergency referrals for patients with isolated eye conditions from outside hospitals will not be accepted.

Requests for consultation should be authorized and reviewed by the most senior team member available, and preferably the attending physician. The patient’s symptoms, visual capability, fundamental eye exam, and the purpose of the consultation should be presented. Whilst any member of the care team may make the call, the ophthalmologist may request to speak with a more senior or knowledgeable provider.

4. The extract from a hospital policy document about emergency ophthalmology includes information about…

Read the text and choose answer (A, B, or C) which you think fits the best according to the text.

2.1: F-FDG (radiopharmaceutical) administration guidelines

The technologist or nurse should give the patient a thorough explanation of the PET scan. Patients must fast (beverages, such as water or coffee, are allowed) for at least 4 hrs before F-FDG imaging, during which time they should be encouraged to drink sufficient water to ensure hydration and promote diuresis. For preparation details see Para 1.1 (this document). Necessary medications are allowed and must be recorded. Ideally, the scan may be scheduled 3–4 hrs after breakfast in diabetic patients who have received their insulin early in the morning. It is strongly advised that commencement of steroid therapy be avoided between the request date for the study and the appointment as it could result in a false-negative result. Because the effect of antibiotics on F-FDG uptake is unknown, it is important to be aware of ongoing antibiotic treatment, but no general recommendation on withdrawal can be stated.

5. The extract from guidelines on the administration of F-FDG (a radiopharmaceutical) to patients having a PET scan…

Read the text and choose answer (A, B, or C) which you think fits the best according to the text.

Sharps Procedure

When an incident occurs in which a healthcare worker may have exposed a patient to their blood or another patient’s blood, this should be reported immediately to the responsible clinician for an assessment of the risks involved, and to the line manager. It must be recorded on the Trust Safeguard Incident Reporting System. If the incident occurs in the community, the patient sustaining the injury (recipient) should be advised to go to the local Emergency Department for assessment. If the incident occurs in hospital, the patient’s medical team have responsibility for organising blood tests and for ensuring that informed consent can be obtained from the source patient and the recipient, as necessary. The medical team should liaise with the consultant microbiologist for further advice. The member of staff involved in the initial incident must not obtain bloods or the patient’s consent.

6. The extract from guidelines on sharps injuries tells healthcare staff who are involved in an incident…