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# The Health Literacy Place

Helping people in understanding modern healthcare

## Sitemaps

- [XML Sitemap](https://healthliteracyplace.org.uk/sitemap.xml): Contains all public & indexable URLs for this website.

## Posts

- ["The exciting thing about organisational health literacy is that we can do something about it."](https://healthliteracyplace.org.uk/the-exciting-thing-about-organisational-health-literacy-is-that-we-can-do-something-about-it/) - Dr Mike Oliver, Chartered Psychologist, Registered Health Psychologist and Steering Group member of Health Literacy UK, was recently commissioned by the NHS in England to ‘make the case for organisational health literacy’. Delivering Improved Population Health Outcomes Tackling Health Inequalities and Improved Health and Care Performance is the end product and explains that organisational health
- [Neil Gray, Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care talks about What Matters To You Day – June 6th 2024](https://healthliteracyplace.org.uk/neil-gray-cabinet-secretary-for-health-and-social-care-talks-about-what-matters-to-you-day-june-6th-2024/) - When addressing Parliament two days ago on our vision for health and social care in Scotland, I described our vision for the future as one that has people at its heart. Reflecting on today’s International What Matters To You Day (WMTY Day), I believe now more than ever that the foundation of all health and
- [Health Literacy Month 2020 - Video message from Dr Gregor Smith, Chief Medical Officer for Scotland](https://healthliteracyplace.org.uk/health-literacy-month-2020-video-message-from-dr-gregor-smith-chief-medical-officer-for-scotland/) - Our closing blog to mark Health Literacy Month 2020 is a video from Dr Gregor Smith, Chief Medical Officer for Scotland. In his blog he talks about the importance of health literacy particularly with regard to our response to the Covid-19 pandemic. Health Literacy Month - Dr Gregor Smith from Alan Davidson on Vimeo.
- ["The largest health literacy development program the world has ever seen"](https://healthliteracyplace.org.uk/the-largest-health-literacy-development-program-the-world-has-ever-seen/) - Read Professor Richard Osborne's article about the European Joint Action on Cardiovascular Diseases and Diabetes (JACARDI) program which he says will transform health equity programs, and bring wide-scale benefits for people who are often left behind.
- [Connect Me](https://healthliteracyplace.org.uk/connect-me/) - Connect Me is the new name for a variety of services or options which may be offered to help people interact and communicate with their healthcare professionals. It can also help people to feel more connected and support people with their health and wellbeing from a place that is most convenient such as home or
- [Supporting the people of Scotland to be "sufficiently on their guard"](https://healthliteracyplace.org.uk/supporting-the-people-of-scotland-to-be-sufficiently-on-their-guard/) - Scotland’s earliest champion of health literacy was probably a physician working in Roxburghshire, William Buchan, who wrote: “Medical authors have generally written in a foreign language; and those who were unequal to the task, have even valued themselves upon couching .. their prescriptions, in terms and characters unintelligible to the rest of mankind. It is
- [NHS Event 2023](https://healthliteracyplace.org.uk/nhs-event-2023/) - Resources from the NHS Scotland Event held in June 2023 are now available, including filmed footage of all the Plenary and Mini Plenary Sessions, presentations from all sessions, and an image gallery.
- [Health literacy is like a chameleon](https://healthliteracyplace.org.uk/health-literacy-is-like-a-chameleon/) - Kristine Sørensen is a Global expert and strategic advisor on health literacy by design. She is also President of the International Health Literacy Association. Her latest health literacy blog is really interesting and well worth a read. You can access it via the link below. Health literacy is like a chameleon (linkedin.com)
- [BLISS – Boosting health Literacy for School Students](https://healthliteracyplace.org.uk/bliss-boosting-health-literacy-for-school-students/) - BLISS is an interesting EU project which aims to promote digital health literacy in the school context through educational and social interventions. It promotes strengthening digital health literacy to contribute to people`s skills for better managing health information and their health and well-being. You can find out more here - Home - Bliss (blissproject.eu)
- [Taking ALISS to the next level - the single source of truth for communities](https://healthliteracyplace.org.uk/taking-aliss-to-the-next-level-the-single-source-of-truth-for-communities/) - What is ALISS? ALISS - A Local Information System for Scotland - is a national digital programme enabling people and professionals to find and share information on resources, services, groups, and support in their local communities and online. ALISS’s aim is to ensure that everyone in Scotland has the right information, at the right time,
- [Coronavirus](https://healthliteracyplace.org.uk/coronavirus/) - For information on Health Literacy Tools and techniques that may help with your interactions during the COVID pandemic please see our Toolkit. Further information about COVID-19 can be found on the NHS inform website.
- [Video: Making it Easy](https://healthliteracyplace.org.uk/making-it-easy-videos/) - Health Literacy in Scotland: Making it Easy See the subtitled version here. Why must we make it easy? It has been found that people remember and understand less than half of the information that we discuss with them, also you can’t tell who has understood by simply looking at them. Improving people’s understanding is crucial
- [This is what you told us about communication](https://healthliteracyplace.org.uk/this-is-what-you-told-us-about-communication/) - To know a bit more about people’s experiences of healthcare we asked volunteers from a local patient group in NHS Tayside to speak to us. We were interested in their personal experiences of different types of communication with healthcare providers. In particular we wanted to know what they thought was done well and what could have
- [Near Me](https://healthliteracyplace.org.uk/near-me/) - Near Me is a video consulting service that enables people to attend appointments from home or wherever is convenient. The service is already widely used across NHS Scotland for health and care appointments and is now being rolled out across a wide range of public services. https://youtu.be/7w2SspHUHWg All you need is a device for making
- [What Matters To You? day 2022](https://healthliteracyplace.org.uk/what-matters-to-you-day-2022/) - Scotland's Chief Nursing Officer, Alex McMahon talks about What Matters to You? day 2022. We are once again celebrating What Matters To You? day with our colleagues throughout Scotland and from around the world. “What matters to you?” is a simple question that can have a big impact on care. It helps to ensure that
- [Video: Making it Easy - Subtitled](https://healthliteracyplace.org.uk/making-it-easy-videos-subtitled/) - Here are some shortened, subtitled sections of our Making It Easy video. Introduction (Making It Easy - v1.12) Unclear terminology (Making It Easy - v2.12) Teach back (Making It Easy - v3.12)
- [Learning together: Improving access and experience](https://healthliteracyplace.org.uk/learning-together-improving-access-and-experience/) - Dr Kate Arrow, Scottish Clinical Leadership Fellow and Anaesthetic Specialty Registrar in NHS Tayside blogs about improving access and experience for patients. Think about the last time you bought something? Maybe an item from an online shop? Think about how easy it was? Online retailers make it almost impossible not to buy their products, ‘popping’ it up
- [Health Literacy Month 2020- How Health Literacy Training is Supporting Employment Advisers in the DWP](https://healthliteracyplace.org.uk/health-literacy-month-2020-how-health-literacy-training-is-supporting-employment-advisers-in-the-dwp/) - Our latest blog to mark Health Literacy Month 2020 is from Susie Ferguson. Susie is a Disability Employment Advisor with the Department of Work and Pensions. In her blog Susie talks about working in partnership with the Public Health Improvement Team to organise health literacy training for her DWP colleagues. Part of my role as
- [Encouraging people to take up the COVID-19 vaccine](https://healthliteracyplace.org.uk/encouraging-people-to-take-up-the-covid-19-vaccine/) - Everyone in Scotland should now have received an invite for their first COVID-19 vaccination appointment. However, many have still to come forward for their vaccine. It's really important that all those eligible come forward as soon as possible and get both doses of the vaccine to ensure maximum protection from COVID-19 and help us win
- [It's OK to Ask - Public messaging campaign from NHS Scotland](https://healthliteracyplace.org.uk/its-ok-to-ask-public-messaging-campaign-from-nhs-scotland/) - NHS Scotland have launched a public campaign to support patients and health and care professionals to have positive conversations about care and treatment. The key message of the campaign is that it’s okay to ask questions of health and care professionals. NHS Scotland have suggested four key questions for patients to ask: What are the

## Pages

- [Home](https://healthliteracyplace.org.uk/)
- [About](https://healthliteracyplace.org.uk/about/)
- [News](https://healthliteracyplace.org.uk/news/) - Near Me is a video consulting service that enables people to attend appointments from home or wherever is convenient. The service is already widely used across NHS Scotland for health and care appointments with around 20,000 consultation being held every week. The service is now being rolled out across a wide range of public services.
- [Why Health Literacy](https://healthliteracyplace.org.uk/why-health-literacy/) - Health literacy is essential for patient safety, self management and effective health and social care relationships with patients, families and carers. Improving Improved health and health outcomes for patients Better patient and professional relationships Improved understanding of medication information, instruction and adherence Reduced risk of serious health problems resulting from misunderstanding and communication Reduced re-admissions
- [Accessibility](https://healthliteracyplace.org.uk/accessibility/) - We're continuously working to make The Health Literacy Place as accessible and usable as possible for all abilities and disabilities. This includes older audiences and those with visual, hearing, cognitive or motor impairments. We try to make our site easy to use with assistive technologies by using: easier-to-read colours larger fonts plain English keyboard-only navigation
- [Toolkit](https://healthliteracyplace.org.uk/toolkit/) - There are a wide range of tools which can support your health literacy practice and this section of the website contains an overview of some of the main techniques and provides links to further resources and guidance. The national health literacy action plan and supporting materials advocates five key approaches to support health literacy with
- [Privacy](https://healthliteracyplace.org.uk/privacy/) - This privacy policy tells you what to expect when the Health Literacy Place collects your personal information. Why we collect personal data We gather this information in order to: improve the site by monitoring how you use it respond to any feedback you send us if you've asked us to send out email alerts to
- [Cookies](https://healthliteracyplace.org.uk/cookies/) - This site places small files, known as 'cookies', onto your computer to collect information about how you browse. These cookies aren't used to identify you personally. You will normally see a message on the site before we store a cookie on your computer. Find out more about how to manage cookies. Measuring site usage We
- [Resources](https://healthliteracyplace.org.uk/resources/)

## Resources

- [Making it easier: a health literacy action plan 2017-2025](https://healthliteracyplace.org.uk/resources/making-it-easier-a-health-literacy-action-plan-2017-2025/) - Making it Easier sets out an action plan for improving health literacy in Scotland.
- [This is what you told us about communication](https://healthliteracyplace.org.uk/resources/this-is-what-you-told-us-about-communication/) - To know a bit more about people’s experiences of healthcare we asked volunteers from a local patient group in NHS Tayside to speak to us. We were interested in their personal experiences of different types of communication with healthcare providers. In particular we wanted to know what they thought was done well and what could have
- [Health Literacy Research and Practice](https://healthliteracyplace.org.uk/resources/health-literacy-research-and-practice/) - Health Literacy Research and Practice (HLRP) is the official journal of the Institute for Healthcare Advancement and is a forum for the dissemination of high-quality behavioural and clinical research. It is an interdisciplinary and international open-access publication dedicated to promoting excellence in research and practice to advance the field of health literacy, promote health equity, and reduce
- [It's okay to ask](https://healthliteracyplace.org.uk/resources/its-okay-to-ask/) - This leaflet produced by NHS Inform provides useful tips and questions that patients can ask during health care appointments, helping them play an active part in care and treatment. Source: NHS Inform - It's OK To Ask
- [Access to Healthcare](https://healthliteracyplace.org.uk/resources/access-to-healthcare/) - Healthcare information for migrants is available on the NHS Inform website. Access to Healthcare – GP Registration cards have been designed to support anyone who needs to register at a new GP practice. You can download printable versions of the cards by clicking the following links. nhs-bus-card-diy-print nhs-z-card-diy-print The first is a business card which sets an individuals rights
- [Near Me resources for BSL Users](https://healthliteracyplace.org.uk/resources/near-me-resources-for-bsl-users/) - Near me have added some useful information and resources which BSL users may find helpful. They encourage the use of Google Chrome voice to text function and here is a case study of how it has been used. They have also developed a BSL Near Me video, which helps callers understand about the platform Also
- [Knowledge translation strategies for dissemination with a focus on healthcare recipients: an overview of systematic reviews](https://healthliteracyplace.org.uk/resources/knowledge-translation-strategies-for-dissemination-with-a-focus-on-healthcare-recipients-an-overview-of-systematic-reviews/) - While there is an ample literature on the evaluation of knowledge translation interventions aimed at healthcare providers, managers, and policy-makers, there has been less focus on patients and their informal caregivers. Further, no overview of the literature on dissemination strategies aimed at healthcare users and their caregivers has been conducted. The overview has two specific
- [Getting it right the first time report of FNP](https://healthliteracyplace.org.uk/resources/getting-it-right-the-first-time-report-of-fnp/) - Understanding and supporting the information needs of disadvantaged young first time mothers. Public report for UK Economic and Social Research project ES/L012634/1
- [International handbook of health literacy](https://healthliteracyplace.org.uk/resources/international-handbook-of-health-literacy-2/) - Health literacy addresses a range of social dimensions of health, including knowledge, navigation and communication, as well as individual and organizational skills for accessing, understanding, evaluating and using information. Particularly over the past decade, health literacy has globally become a major public health concern as an asset for promoting health, wellbeing and sustainable development. Available
- [Towards an equitable digital public health era: promoting equity through a health literacy perspective](https://healthliteracyplace.org.uk/resources/towards-an-equitable-digital-public-health-era-promoting-equity-through-a-health-literacy-perspective/) - Natasha Azzopardi-Muscat, Kristine Sørensen European Journal of Public Health, Volume 29, Issue Supplement_3, October 2019, Pages 13–17 Published: 18 November 2019
- [Making it Easy - Graham Kramer](https://healthliteracyplace.org.uk/resources/making-it-easy-graham-kramer/) - Opening presentation from the Health Literacy Place launch event in October 2015 by Dr Graham Kramer. This presentation provides an overview of health literacy and the development of the Scottish action plan.
- [Postcard for use at events/training](https://healthliteracyplace.org.uk/resources/postcard-for-use-at-events-training/) - This postcard resource offers information for health and social care on health literacy and asks people to identify actions they will take and further information they would like following a health literacy session or discussion. Source: NHS Education for Scotland (2015)
- [History of health literacy in Scotland](https://healthliteracyplace.org.uk/resources/history-of-health-literacy-in-scotland/) - A blog article by Christine Hoy from the Health and Social Care Alliance on the history of health literacy in Scotland. This blog discusses the policy context of health literacy and its links to long term conditions such as diabetes.
- [NHS bus card](https://healthliteracyplace.org.uk/resources/nhs-bus-card/) - You can download and print the Access To Healthcare - GP Registration Card - Business Card using the link.
- [NHS Z card](https://healthliteracyplace.org.uk/resources/nhs-z-card/) - You can download and print the Access To Healthcare - GP Registration Card - Z Card leaflet using the link below.
- [Making it Easy](https://healthliteracyplace.org.uk/resources/making-it-easy-subtitled/) - To make it easier we have split our Making it Easy video into smaller chunks. Subtitled version of the videos are also available.
- [Support for self management through public libraries in Scotland](https://healthliteracyplace.org.uk/resources/support-for-self-management-through-public-libraries-in-scotland/) - Since October 2017, the ALLIANCE's Self Management Team have been working with partners to increase support for self management through public libraries in Scotland The Health and Social Care Alliance Scotland in partnership with NHS Scotland and Scottish public library services have been working together on a Scottish Library and Information Council (SLIC) Public Library Improvement
- [International Handbook of Health Literacy](https://healthliteracyplace.org.uk/resources/international-handbook-of-health-literacy/) - Available Open Access under CC-BY-NC licence. Health literacy addresses a range of social dimensions of health, including knowledge, navigation and communication, as well as individual and organisational skills for accessing, understanding, evaluating and using information. Particularly over the past decade, health literacy has globally become a major public health concern as an asset for promoting
- [Health Literacy Centre Europe](https://healthliteracyplace.org.uk/resources/health-literacy-centre-europe/) - The Health Literacy Centre Europe portal has been developed within the project “Intervention Research On Health Literacy among Ageing population” (IROHLA), a European research project on health literacy for older people. The goal is to present a guideline for policy and practice to show the specific and important measures to improve health literacy for older people.
- [Health Care Support Worker Resource - Health literacy and finding information](https://healthliteracyplace.org.uk/resources/health-care-support-worker-resource-health-literacy-and-finding-information/) - This resource has been created by NHS Education for Scotland specifically for staff working in a Health Care Support Worker role, for example, administration, estates, portering etc. The resource offers guidance for supporting people with health literacy and also in searching for and finding information that you can trust. You can request printed copies of

## Toolkit

- [Informed consent](https://healthliteracyplace.org.uk/toolkit/informed-consent/) - People are often required to consent to various treatments and procedures, it is important that they are supported to understand exactly what they are being asked to consent to, the consequences and to make an informed decision.
- [Communication strategies](https://healthliteracyplace.org.uk/toolkit/communication-strategies/) - An overview of strategies and guidance for communicating health care information.
- [Access to Healthcare](https://healthliteracyplace.org.uk/toolkit/access-to-healthcare/) - A common issue reported by some of Scotland’s most vulnerable groups is difficulty in registering at a GP Practice. This is an issue that has particularly affected Gypsy Travellers, refugees, people seeking asylum and people experiencing homelessness.
- [Techniques](https://healthliteracyplace.org.uk/toolkit/techniques/) - It is easy to underestimate people’s health literacy needs, this may be because those needs can be hidden or people are reluctant to admit that they haven’t understood information that has been explained. Everyone can be at risk of poor health literacy and you should not assume a person’s level of health literacy or their level of understanding. This section is dedicated to the five techniques recommended for good health literacy practice.
- [Self-management](https://healthliteracyplace.org.uk/toolkit/self-management/) - Self-management can be described as an approach which supports people living with long term conditions to manage their own health and be in the driving seat of healthcare.
- [Encouraging patient questions](https://healthliteracyplace.org.uk/toolkit/encouraging-patient-questions/) - We are responsible for ensuring that all relevant information is provided and understood it is important to support people in asking questions to help them find out information that is important to them.
- [Use simple language](https://healthliteracyplace.org.uk/toolkit/techniques/use-simple-language/) - https://vimeo.com/361807269 The terminology used in healthcare can often be confusing for people, especially at times of distress when people may struggle more than usual to take in information. In health a range of jargon and acronyms are used routinely and we may forget that this language is unfamiliar to our patients and service users. Therefore,
- [Use pictures](https://healthliteracyplace.org.uk/toolkit/techniques/use-pictures/) - https://vimeo.com/361806328 Spoken and written word is often misheard or misread and also misunderstood, pictures and visuals may be effective in improving understanding when communicating new or complex ideas to people. It may be that pictures are used to compliment text, for example, when explaining a self management procedure such as giving an injection or caring
- [Chunk and check](https://healthliteracyplace.org.uk/toolkit/techniques/chunk-and-check/) - Chunk and check can be used alongside tools such as teach back to assist in promoting understanding. When we speak to patients and clients there is often a lot of information to be discussed and we may have to explain more than one concept. People can struggle to take on board a long list of
- [Teach Back](https://healthliteracyplace.org.uk/toolkit/techniques/teach-back/) - The teach back method is a useful way to confirm that the information you provide is being understood by getting people to 'teach back' what has been discussed and what instruction has been given. This is more than saying 'do you understand?' and is more a check of how you have explained things than the
- [Long term conditions](https://healthliteracyplace.org.uk/toolkit/long-term-conditions/) - People with long term conditions may require further support in terms of health literacy to assist them in understanding and the self management of their condition.
- [Medicine management](https://healthliteracyplace.org.uk/toolkit/medicine-management/) - Information related to medicines such as guidance on why and how they are taken and medicine information sheets can be confusing for people. The language used in explaining dosage and side effects may be difficult for people to understand and can result in medications not having the intended outcome.
- [Routinely offer help with paperwork](https://healthliteracyplace.org.uk/toolkit/techniques/routinely-offer-help-with-paperwork/) - We suggest that all services take a universal approach to offering support to those who have to fill in forms and paperwork. Ask all staff to operate in this way across your service to ensure that support is available at all points of contact from the first encounter with the reception staff in your service.

## Categories

- [News](https://healthliteracyplace.org.uk/category/news/)
- [Blog](https://healthliteracyplace.org.uk/category/blog/)
- [Videos](https://healthliteracyplace.org.uk/category/videos/)

## Tags

- [WMTY](https://healthliteracyplace.org.uk/tag/wmty/)

## Resource Types

- [Report](https://healthliteracyplace.org.uk/resource_type/report/)
- [Website](https://healthliteracyplace.org.uk/resource_type/website/)
- [Toolkit](https://healthliteracyplace.org.uk/resource_type/toolkit/)
- [Article](https://healthliteracyplace.org.uk/resource_type/article/)
- [Marketing Material](https://healthliteracyplace.org.uk/resource_type/marketing-material/)
- [Video](https://healthliteracyplace.org.uk/resource_type/video/)

## Resource Tags

- [Communication](https://healthliteracyplace.org.uk/resource_tag/communication/)
- [Information sharing](https://healthliteracyplace.org.uk/resource_tag/information-sharing/)
- [Scotland](https://healthliteracyplace.org.uk/resource_tag/scotland/)
- [NHS Education for Scotland](https://healthliteracyplace.org.uk/resource_tag/nhs-education-for-scotland/)
- [Older people](https://healthliteracyplace.org.uk/resource_tag/older-people/)
- [Literacy](https://healthliteracyplace.org.uk/resource_tag/literacy/)
- [Mental Health](https://healthliteracyplace.org.uk/resource_tag/mental-health/)
- [Self Management](https://healthliteracyplace.org.uk/resource_tag/self-management/)