Risk to patients, risk to clinicians: a three-site audit of the documentation of counselling in first episode genital herpes.

National guidelines give advice on topics which should be covered when counselling patients with a new diagnosis of genital herpes (HSV) with the aim of reducing transmissions. This three-site UK audit of documentation of counselling for patients with a new diagnosis of genital herpes reviewed the records of 284 patients. Documentation in all areas of counselling was limited and this may result in adverse medico-legal consequences for patients and clinicians.