Health Literacy

Health Innovation North East North Cumbria (HI NENC) are pleased to host the North East and Yorkshire Health Literacy Community of Practice.

What is health literacy?

Health literacy is about people being able to understand health information. It’s about us making it easier for them to do this. It’s talking to patients using everyday words. It’s writing to them in a way that’s clear. This helps our patients make informed choices about their health.

Why is health literacy important?

It is important that health information is written in a way that can be understood so that people can make informed choices about their health. The average reading age of adults in the UK is 9-11 years old. Half of adults find it hard to understand health information. So they struggle to use it to help their health and wellbeing. This creates health inequalities.

People with low health literacy:

  • are more likely to die younger
  • are more likely to have long-term conditions
  • miss appointments more often
  • find it hard to take medication correctly
  • feel worried and angry
  • struggle to look after their own health effectively

What can we do about it?

We can all share clearer health information. We can all speak and write in ways that make it easier for our patients to understand.

We can write in a clear way, at the average UK reading age. We can use as little medical jargon as possible. We can talk about health using everyday words.

We can check with patients if we’ve explained clearly before they go home.

What are we doing to help?

North East and Yorkshire Health Literacy Community of Practice

Health Innovation North East North Cumbria (HI NENC) are working with Health Innovation Yorkshire and Humber to provide a way to share learning about health literacy through our Health Literacy Community of Practice. We welcome colleagues from outside health and social care who may work in local libraries, education, communications and community engagement groups to join this community of practice. Please help us by letting others know about this community.

NHS Futures Platform

Health Innovation NENC have created an NHS Futures Platform to support the work of the Health Literacy Community of Practice. If you would like to join the community and NHS Futures Platform, please contact [email protected] or [email protected] or request an invitation via FutureNHS Collaboration Platform – FutureNHS Collaboration Platform

By joining the NHS Futures Platform, you will be automatically updated on the activity of the community.

North East and North Cumbria Integrated Care System (NENC ICS) – Regional Health Literacy Team

The NENC ICS have a dedicated Health Literacy Team which aims to make sure that the NENC ICS communicates information to all people in a way that is easy for them to understand. Information about the team can be found here: Regional Health Literacy Team | North East and North Cumbria NHS (northeastnorthcumbria.nhs.uk)