An essential element of health care decision making is related to 'what is going to happen next' (or prognosis). Patients are often dissatisfied with prognosis communication (Chan & Woodruff 1997; Kirk, Kirk & Kristjanson 2004). Yet there is a paucity of literature on the contributing factors and resulting consequences of prognosis communication. A thematic analysis on prognosis communication applicable to hospital wards was employed. The thematic analysis revealed that patients are dissatisfied with prognosis communication, and this dissatisfaction is related to information giving, understanding, and decision making. There is also evidence to suggest that health care professionals are also distressed and dissatisfied with the current use of prognosis in health care delivery, and this relates to hope, role discrepancies, and emotional labour. Factors identified in the literature as contributing to the current use of prognosis included difficulty with the definition, estimation and communication of prognosis. The contributing factor of the medical model upon prognosis communication is discussed. The suggestion is made that if both consumers and providers are dissatisfied with current prognosis communication, then there should be sufficient relevant research funded, undertaken and utilised to inform training, policy changes and individual clinical practice reflection in the movement towards more patient-focussed, sustainable health care.