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Patient Information Providers Network

On Monday 1st September, I attended the Patient Information Providers Network meeting, at the Golden Jubilee Hospital. Chaired by Arlene Campbell of NHS Inform, the first presentation from the Scottish Consortium for Learning Disability entitled “Accessible Information” discussed the ways information can be made more accessible to all readers regardless of their literacy levels. Tips were provided on the best format, language and style, how to work with your audience, the use of graphics and further sources of advice.

Arlene provided the group with an update on the work and progress on NHS Inform. 'NHS Inform' will adopt a nationally coordinated approach to the provision of health and health service information for the public, patients and carers in Scotland. NHS Inform will provide:

• a single shared health information online resource via NHS24.com (the service will also have a dedicated url) which will bring together quality assured national and local information from across the NHS and other sectors;
• a national health information helpline; and
• a coordinated, networked approach to the delivery of information via direct access information points embedded in local communities.

A team is also working on a communication strategy to inform and seek support at local level to help drive forward the national initiative.

A presentation from NHS Education for Scotland Knowledge Services on the technologies which could be made available to the Group to facilitate better sharing of information and allow for collaborative working discussed the options of Community Websites and the Shared Spaces. Both of these would be provided via the eLibrary, and it was agreed that a further meeting would take place between NES and representatives of the group to investigate the merits of each technology.

Appraising health information – challenges and solutions

“Appraising health information – challenges and solutions” was held in Glasgow on the 2nd of September. As outlined in Better Health, Better Care, the Scottish Government has undertaken to establish a National Health Information and Support Service with NHS24 leading on the development of this service through the provision of a single health information online resource called NHS Inform.

This round table event met to explore some of the issues relating to appraising health information and the challenges ahead. Mark Duman from PIF talked about the work of his organization, discussed some of the  quality standards which exist at the moment and talked about the pros and cons of introducing a quality standard for health information.

Further presentations included Salisbury NHS Foundation Trust and Macmillan Cancer Support talking about their experience of the NHSLA standard for producing patient information, and Professor Theo Raynor who presented an overview of the processes and outcomes associated with user testing of patient information leaflets for medicines.

Clare Echlin of NHS Quality Improvement Scotland detailed the quality standards in existence in Scotland, the processes involved in setting and measuring standards, how standards become embedded in processes and how QIS operates. Christine Hoy of the ALISS project (Access to Local Information to Support Self Management) provided an insight into the work of ALISS and described the 3 workstreams comprising the project – technical architecture, health literacy and it’s links to Curriculum for Excellence.

A round table discussion then followed to examine and pros and cons of establishing quality standards for the production and provision of health information (patient, consumer and health improvement). The outcomes of these group discussions will then be taken forward for further consideration.

To find out more about the work going on in Scotland contact Carol at: scotland@pifonline.org.uk