Tuesday 4 October 2011

Grand Central Hotel, 99 Gordon Street, Glasgow, G1 3SF

PiF’s first conference in Scotland took place this week in Glasgow and was a great success, with a real buzz, plenty of networking and some informative and thought provoking presentations and sessions. 

Mark Duman opened the conference by setting out the policy framework for health information in Scotland and highlighting the need for clinicians and their patients to have the right skills to both give and receive health information. This was echoed by the opening speaker, Robert Wilson, who gave an honest and moving account of his recovery from stroke and the challenges he faced getting information to aid him in his recovery.

Shona Chaib gave an encouraging presentation on board investment in health information, outlining the Golden Jubilee hospital’s enhanced recovery programme for orthopaedic patients. Education and information given pre-admission is a significant part of the programme, which has been shown to reduce the length of hospital stay from 6 to 4 days. The programme has been so successful it is being rolled out across Scotland.

Lynne Huckerby gave a comprehensive update on NHS Scotland information services, including NHSinform, NHS 24 and new services being offered via digital television. Lynne also informed the audience that the development of a consumer health information strategy for Scotland is underway.

After a break Belinda Hacking gave a thought provoking presentation about shared decision making, highlighting a research study exploring shared decision making between oncologists and patients which resulted in patients having less uncertainty, increased confidence and less regret in decisions made.

Two breakout sessions followed from Scott Cunningham who talked about the My Diabetes, My Way patient information web site and Ian Welsh who updated delegates on the self management strategy for Scotland.

During lunch delegates visited the exhibition stands and some spent time contributing to a film asking for their views on the challenges in health information, and the solutions.

Presentations after lunch looked at accessibility and health literacy, with Susan Burn informing delegates of simple ways to address hidden accessibility and Kate Burton outlining the Teachback technique which aims to address poor health literacy during consultations.

Two breakout sessions followed from Carrie Blair on improving translation and interpreting and from Maddy Halliday on improving information for people with communication difficulties.

The conference ended with a presentation from Scotland’s Minister for Public Health, Michael Matheson MSP, who outlined where information fits in Scotland’s health policy and discussed ongoing work on health literacy.

Maureen Black rounded things up with an update on Information Prescriptions in Scotland, taking best practice from England and developing prescriptions for cancer.

Feedback from exhibitors, delegates and speakers on the day suggests the day was a great success.

During the event we did some filming using an ipad based piece of software, asking delegates to talk about their major challenges in health information, potential solutions and how PiF might be able to help. The film will be available on the website once it has been edited.

Conference programme

Presentations (available to view by PiF members and Scotland conference attendees only)

Board investment in health information based around the Quality Strategy for NHS Scotland - Shona Chaib, Nurse Director, National Waiting Times Centre Board,Golden Jubilee National Hospital

Scotland’s Health Information Service - Multi-channel approach to delivering service - Lynne Huckerby, Head of Health Information Services, NHS 24

Shared Decision Making: Does access to better quality information improve outcomes? - Belinda Hacking, Consultant Clinical Psychologist,Edinburgh Cancer Centre

The Self Management strategy for Scotland - Ian Welsh, Chief Executive, Long Term Conditions Alliance Scotland

NHS Scotland: My diabetes, my way - Scott Cunningham, Technical Consultant, NHS Scotland

Effective information provision for people with communication difficulties - Maddy Halliday, Director Scotland, The Stroke Association

Improving translation, interpreting and communication support across Scotland - Carrie Blair, Project Manager, NHS Health Scotland

“Sorry I forgot my glasses!”- An insight into health literacy - Kate Burton, Public Health Practitioner, NHS Lothian

Hidden accessibility - Susan Burn, Project Officer and Jean Alcock, Training Advisor,
Scottish Accessible Information Forum

The role of Consumer Health Information in supporting a quality-driven NHS -Michael Matheson MSP, Minister for Public Health,Scottish Government

Future delivery mechanisms: Information Prescriptions - Maureen Black, Manager, Scottish Government Health Department and Macmillan Cancer Support

PiF would like to thank members of our advisory group who came from the following organisations for their sterling efforts in developing this conference:    

• NHS 24 – NHS Inform 
• The Stroke Association 
• Scottish Health Council 
• NHS Health Scotland 
• NHS Lothian 
• Consumer Focus Scotland 
• NDR-UK 
• NHS Ayrshire & Arran 
• Edinburgh University 
• NHS 24 
• Better Together, Scottish Government 
• Robert Gordon University 
• Long Term Conditions Alliance
  

Page last edited: 19 October 2011