Library and Knowledge Service: Dorset County Hospital NHS Foundation Trust

Contact name: Morag Evans

Contact email: [email protected]

Date completed: August 2022

Short summary of the initiative/project

Developed a network of health literacy champions from a range of specialties across the Trust. 

How did you get started?  Any tips to share?

Used PDSA model to plan and test the approach used.  Built in impact measurement from the beginning of the project.  Modelled the approach on dementia champions network which had been very successful.

Who did you work with?

Interested people from a range of departments who were keen to be involved in health literacy activities.  I also worked with public library staff to raise awareness of health literacy issues among public library staff.  I have also delivered a short 15 minute health literacy awareness slot to junior doctors.

What happened? 

Champions have taken the message out to their departments.  I have collected impact data on how their initial training is impacting in the department and on patient care.  Library staff have also done work to demystify the language used in the library information.

What next?

Carry on building the network and looking for opportunities to raise awareness with staff in the organisation and working in partnership with the public library.

Our work with the champions has led to involvement with the system-wide Health Inequalities Group and we are developing “postcards” which define all the various terms associated with Health Inequalities, e.g. Anchor Institutions, Social Value, etc. It is planned they will be used with staff to break down some of the jargon associated with Health Inequalities.

Page last reviewed: 8 December 2022
Next review due: 12 December 2023