Strong MRCS communication skills come down to a small set of calm, honest phrases that you can use under pressure with an angry relative, a complaint, bad news, a consent discussion or a disagreeing colleague. Below are 21 such phrases grouped by situation, plus the structure that sits behind them, so you walk into Part B with words you have already practised out loud.
This guide covers why the communication stations matter, a simple structure for any difficult conversation, the 21 phrases in five situation tables, the habits that undo good wording, and how to practise them before your sitting.
Table of Contents
Why MRCS communication skills matter in Part B
MRCS communication skills matter because communication is one of the four content areas of the Part B OSCE, with four stations played out with simulated patients or actors. RCS England describes a circuit of 19 stations of nine minutes, made up of 17 examined stations and 2 preparation stations, so the communication stations are a real share of the day rather than a side task.
Many doctors from India and the Gulf are excellent with real patients in a busy outpatient clinic. The difficulty is different in an exam room: an actor follows a brief, the emotion is turned up, and you have nine minutes to stay structured while someone is upset with you. That is why rehearsed phrasing helps. It frees your mind to listen instead of searching for words.
The phrases in this guide are our own professional advice on how experienced surgeons tend to speak, not official wording from the colleges. Use them as a starting point and adapt them to your own voice, because an actor will notice if you sound scripted. For the full station breakdown, read our guide to the MRCS Part B OSCE format.
A simple structure for any difficult conversation
The safest structure for any of the communication stations is: acknowledge the emotion, explore what the person knows and wants, explain clearly, agree a plan and check understanding. If you follow those five steps, your phrases have somewhere to land.
| Step | What you are doing | What it sounds like |
| Acknowledge | Naming the feeling before the facts | “I can see this has been really worrying.” |
| Explore | Finding out what they know and what matters to them | “Can you tell me what you have been told so far?” |
| Explain | Giving information in small, plain pieces | “There are two things I would like to explain.” |
| Agree a plan | Making the next step concrete | “What I will do now is speak to the consultant.” |
| Check | Confirming understanding and offering more | “What questions do you have for me?” |
Good MRCS communication skills are less about clever words and more about this order. Many candidates jump straight to explaining, and the actor stays angry because nobody acknowledged the anger first. Slow the start down and the rest of the station usually follows.
Phrases for an angry patient or relative (1 to 5)
With an angry relative, your first job is to lower the temperature, and these five phrases do that by showing you are listening rather than defending. Keep your tone level, sit down if the setting allows, and let silences happen.
| No. | Phrase | Why it works |
| 1 | “I can see how upset you are, and I would like to understand what has happened from your side.” | Names the emotion and invites their story |
| 2 | “Please take your time. I am not in a rush, and I want to get this right for you.” | Signals patience, even inside nine minutes |
| 3 | “You are right to raise this with me, and I am glad you did.” | Validates without admitting fault you cannot confirm |
| 4 | “I am sorry this has been such a difficult experience for you and your family.” | An apology for the experience, honest and humane |
| 5 | “Can I tell you what I know so far, and then what I will do next?” | Moves gently from emotion to information |
If the shouting continues, do not raise your voice to match it. Lower it slightly and repeat that you want to help. In our experience, examiners watching MRCS communication skills look for the doctor who stays calm and keeps the conversation safe, not the one who wins the argument.
Phrases for handling a complaint (6 to 9)
When someone complains, show that you take it seriously, be open about what you can and cannot answer, and explain how the concern will be followed up. Never blame a colleague or the system in front of the patient.
- Phrase 6: “Thank you for telling me. I take this seriously and I want to make sure it is looked into properly.”
- Phrase 7: “I do not have all the details in front of me yet, so I will not guess. I will find out and come back to you.”
- Phrase 8: “If you would like to make a formal complaint, I can explain how to do that and who will support you.”
- Phrase 9: “Whatever happens with the complaint, my priority right now is making sure your father is safe and comfortable.”
Phrase 7 matters most in the communication stations, because candidates often feel pressure to have every answer. Honest uncertainty, followed by a clear promise to return, sounds far more professional than an invented explanation.
Phrases for breaking bad news (10 to 14)
Breaking bad news well means preparing the person, giving the news in plain words, then stopping to let it land. These five phrases follow that rhythm and avoid jargon that can blur the message.
| No. | Phrase | When to use it |
| 10 | “Before we talk about the results, can you tell me what you understand about why the scan was done?” | Opening, to find their starting point |
| 11 | “I am afraid I have some difficult news to share with you.” | A warning shot before the news itself |
| 12 | “The scan shows a growth in the bowel, and we are worried that it may be a cancer.” | Plain words, no hiding behind terms like “lesion” |
| 13 | “I can see this is a shock. Take all the time you need.” | After the news, then stay quiet |
| 14 | “You will not be on your own with this. Let me explain what happens next.” | Moving towards a plan and support |
The silence after phrase 13 is the hardest part of MRCS communication skills for many surgeons, who are trained to act quickly. Count slowly to five in your head before you speak again.
Phrases for consent and shared decisions (15 to 18)
In a consent conversation, your phrases should check understanding, explain benefits, risks and alternatives in plain terms, and make clear the decision belongs to the patient.
- Phrase 15: “Can you tell me in your own words what you understand about the operation?”
- Phrase 16: “The main benefit is that it should relieve your pain, and the risks I want you to know about are bleeding, infection and the small chance of needing further surgery.”
- Phrase 17: “There are other options as well, including not having the operation now, and I would like to talk through each of them.”
- Phrase 18: “This is your decision, and you do not have to decide today. What would help you think it over?”
Adjust the risks in phrase 16 to the procedure in your brief, and always keep them specific. Strong MRCS communication skills in consent stations show up as patience: a patient who feels pushed will often say so, and the actor may be briefed to test exactly that.
Phrases for disagreeing with a colleague (19 to 21)
When you disagree with a colleague, stay focused on patient safety, use facts rather than opinions about the person, and suggest a way forward. These scenarios test professionalism as much as wording.
| No. | Phrase | Why it works |
| 19 | “I may be missing something, but I am concerned about this patient’s observations. Could we review them together?” | Raises concern without attacking |
| 20 | “I hear your point, and I still feel uncomfortable going ahead. Can we ask the consultant for a view?” | Holds your position and escalates appropriately |
| 21 | “Can we agree on what we will do now and document it clearly?” | Ends with a shared, recorded plan |
If the colleague is senior, respect still means speaking up. Phrase 20 is useful precisely because it is polite and firm at the same time. In these communication stations, the actor may push back more than once, so be ready to repeat your concern calmly.
How to practise MRCS communication skills before your sitting
The best way to practise MRCS communication skills is aloud, timed and observed, and that includes checking your delivery as well as your wording. Start by removing the habits below, then build daily timed practice.
Habits that undo good phrases
Even the best phrases fail if your delivery works against them, so watch for these habits as you practise.
- Talking over the actor. Let them finish, even if you know what they will say.
- Jargon. Words such as “laparotomy” or “metastatic” need a plain explanation straight after.
- Rushing the opening. Introduce yourself, confirm who you are speaking to and why, then begin.
- False reassurance. “Everything will be fine” breaks trust when you cannot promise it.
- Ignoring the clock. Aim to start summarising with a minute or two in hand so you finish with a plan.
Body language counts too. Sit at the same level, keep your hands still and look at the person rather than your notes. These small things are part of MRCS communication skills, and they are easy to fix with honest feedback from a colleague.
Timed, observed practice
Practise ideally with a colleague playing the patient and another watching with a simple checklist.
Try one scenario from each table every day in the weeks before your exam, running nine minutes on a timer. Swap roles, because playing the relative teaches you what good listening feels like. Record yourself on your phone once a week and listen for filler words and rushed endings. For a wider study plan, see our MRCS Part B preparation strategies and the checklist for the final week before your Part B exam.
Our MRCS Part B general surgery course includes structured practice for the communication stations alongside the other content areas. Check sitting dates and deadlines on our MRCS exam dates page before you plan your practice calendar.
Frequently asked questions
How many communication stations are there in MRCS Part B?
RCS England lists four communication stations within the Part B OSCE, played with simulated patients or actors. Check your college’s current guidance before your sitting.
Are these 21 phrases official MRCS wording?
No. They are our own professional advice on phrasing difficult conversations, not exam rules. Adapt them to your own voice so they sound natural.
Can I use the same phrases in every station?
You can reuse the structure, but each station needs wording that fits the brief. Good MRCS communication skills mean responding to the person in front of you, not reciting a script.
What should I do if the actor keeps getting angrier?
Stay calm, lower your voice slightly, acknowledge the feeling again and offer a concrete next step.
How long should I practise before Part B?
Daily timed practice over several weeks works well for most candidates. Short, regular sessions with feedback beat one long session the night before.
Is communication practice part of a Part B course?
It should be. Look for a course that runs timed communication stations with feedback, alongside anatomy, critical care and clinical skills.
Talk to our MRCS team about practising the communication stations with feedback before your sitting.
Related guides:
- MRCS Part B OSCE format and stations
- MRCS Part B preparation strategies
- What is MRCS: a complete guide to the exam
- Bouncing back after a failed MRCS attempt
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