Patient information workshop pack 1: Setting the scene
The slides and script to the setting the scene workshop.
1.5 million people with long-term conditions
There will be a 30% increase in the number of people with 3 or more long-term conditions by 2020
NHS libraries are uniquely positioned to help throughout the patient journey
- Point 1: As NHS Librarians we are used to playing a key role in providing evidence for patient care as part of our service to healthcare staff. Think of all our literature searches, especially those of you who may work as Clinical Librarians. I was often asked for information for consultants to discuss with patients We have skills in finding the evidence, appraising it and making it readily available in formats needed by our healthcare colleagues. We are already partners in patient care.
- Point 2: We may also need to look at ways of expanding our library services to healthcare staff as they strive to engage with patients with varying literacy levels. Our training skills can be utilised to include facilitating health literacy awareness for all healthcare professionals.
- Point 3: There is a real need for patients and the public to have access to high quality, reliable health information. As patients are being encouraged to self-manage and be partners in their care they need access to a range of resources tailored to their literacy level.
Our colleagues in public libraries are already involved in this area.
We in NHS libraries can act as signposts to the information that these groups need to empower them to be active participants in their health and well-being.
The evidence shows that providing high quality health information is beneficial. It has a positive impact on service utilization and health costs, patients’ experience of
healthcare and patients’ health behaviour and status.
Patient engagement is vital to help people manage their health, make informed decisions about their healthcare, and mitigate financial pressure on the health service.
So in the current crisis patient information and self management may be one of the keys to reducing demand.
Therefore, there is much to do to achieve this vision
We have representatives from these organisations on the PPI Working Group and we are working closely to make the most of existing resources and avoid duplication.
In the next slides we will say a bit more about some of these organisations.
Please note, not every public library will be offering exactly the same projects/information. Invite an external speaker from your local Public Library to present what they are doing to support health and wellbeing in the community. Please provide contact details of the regional SCL lead so that attendees have the opportunity for partnership working. (Ask [email protected] for contacts)
Other areas where Public Libraries may provide advantages partnerships;
Customer service skills (dealing with members of the public rather than our usual users)
Joint training sessions
Book exchanges (Public Library book collections in NHS Libraries)
Reading Well Books on Prescription was launched in 2013 to support people with common mental health diagnoses, such as depression and anxiety. Reading Well is available in 91% of English public library authorities and can either be accessed by ‘self-referral’ ( a library user choosing a book on their own) or by being ‘prescribed’ by a health professional. There are approx. 7000 prescribers in England. This was followed by further reading lists; mood boosting books, ‘Shelf Help’ for teens and young adults and a dementia reading list. The Reading Agency are currently compiling a new list on Long Term Conditions (due June 2017), which an NHS librarian is helping to shortlist. Many Public Libraries provide supplementary services alongside these collections. (Statistics taken from readingagency.org.uk )
Many NHS Libraries already hold a collection or collections of Reading Well stock
Invite a member of Macmillan to present to the group. Other areas where they can support NHS Libraries health information provision:
Communication with patients
Dealing with enquiries
Judging the level of literacy required
Giving information not advice
Provide contact details of local Macmillan name for partnership working
The Guidance was published in March 2016 and was updated in Dec 2016.
The main comments received were “our library cannot be accessed by patients” Let’s have a look at what’s in the guidance and how it could help you.
Use guidance to talk through these. and then add some personal comment about each
- Facilitating healthcare staff to provide patient information - Libraries contributing to Information Standard Accreditation, evidence for patient leaflets, Health Information Week support, training on health literacy, training for volunteers
- Walk in reference use of print resources
PERSONAL EXPERIENCE: Patient wanted a fiction book while an in patient . He walked in with drip attached on trolley! Issued this to him. He left it with ward staff when discharged but grateful and perhaps we helped improve his patient experience. - Enquiry service, for example a patient asking for information on Parkinson's and exercise. Leaflet on quality health information on the internet which we give out. We would use the information from NHS Choices and print this for them.
- Collaboration with local public library service - Many NHS Libraries already have Public Library stock, information sharing meetings, joint training or events.
- Facilitating patient / public health literacy - NHS Libraries have developed patient reading groups, become involved in literacy training, run training sessions for users on search techniques, provide displays for awareness weeks.
- The library as a public space
PERSONAL EXPERIENCE: Library now signposted from concourse , we have patients come in to sit and read the paper.This has meant that if staff want to answer their bleeps we do direct them to the office rather than let then use the desk phone. Some staff have asked use about issues around ward staff not knowing were patients are but this is no different to patients who leave the wards to visit the hospital shops or cafes. If you are concerned you could always ask the patient if they re ok. I sometimes do.
This was the result of our initial scoping exercise and some comments made during a Twitter event on PPI.
We collated examples for LQAF returns , HLG conferences and Sally Hernando innovations. It is a main section in the guidance.
We have used it as a key resource with our stakeholders to showcase the work that NHS libraries are already engaged in. Most have asked to have copies of it. So how can it help you. lets look at some examples
Highlight some examples to quote
Do visit the KfH website and explore if you haven't looked at it
The next few slides will go into more detail about the Task & Finish Groups
MOU = Memorandum of Understanding
TOR = Terms of Reference
Optional: NHS Choices activity session - If tablet/laptop available per table – set tasks to find specific information – competition to use least clicks. Or could set as pre-workshop task and participant with least clicks on a search can demonstrate how they did it
