A year of progress on health and digital literacy

Challenges and Solutions Workshop April 2024

Our spring Health Information Challenges and Solutions Workshop saw members discuss AI, diverse user needs and opportunities in an election year.

Creating tailored health information for people experiencing homelessness

Fiona Campbell and Taylor Haws from the Single Homeless project share their top tips for creating health resources with empathy and sensitivity.

Challenges and Solutions Workshop September 2023

Our autumn Challenges and Solutions workshop saw members discuss capacity challenges and conflicting feedback as well as voting on upcoming PIF events.

YouTube launches expanded HealthFeatures

PIF director Sophie Randall shares her thoughts on how the launch of YouTube’s expanded HealthFeatures provided an opportunity to examine the complex…

Using personalised care conversation skills to support patients with money worries

Dr Emma Hyde, clinical director of the Personalised Care Institute, discusses how person-centred conversations can help tackle health issues caused by…

YouTube HealthShelf Q&A summary

PIF director Sophie Randall outlines key points from an update on YouTube HealthShelf applications for charities and private companies.

Marking three years of the PIF TICK

As the PIF TICK celebrates its 100th accredited member, PIF director Sophie Randall reflects on how far the scheme has come and what happens next.

YouTube Health best practice – top tips

PIF communications manager Sheena Campbell summarises top tips from a recent YouTube Health best practice series.

Health Information Challenges and Solutions Workshop winter 2023

Our winter Health Information Challenges and Solutions Workshop saw members discussing accessible language, review processes and misinformation.

Translated health information is essential to tackling health inequality

Sophie Randall, Director, Patient Information Forum and Dr Alice Wood, GP and Clinical Director, Cognitant Group discuss the importance of translated…

Use of negative contractions in health information

PIF communications manager Sheena Campbell rounds up responses to a recent query on using negative contractions in health information.

Health Literacy UK Conference 2022

Health Literacy UK conference advocates for a national community of practice to bring forward health literacy interventions and measure their effectiveness.

WHO launches toolkit to tackle misinformation

PIF director Sophie Randall discusses a new WHO toolkit for tackling misinformation in non-communicable disease which features the PIF TICK as a case…

Health Information Challenges and Solutions Workshop autumn 2022

Our autumn Health Information Challenges and Solutions Workshop saw members discussing impact, accessibility, digital and a lack of resources.

Explaining how patient data informs health information

By Grace Annan-Callcott, Programme Adviser, Understanding Patient Data

Recognising individuality and removing stigma to tackle health inequalities

Sukhjeen Kaur, founder of Chronically Brown, says we must stop lumping ‘ethnic minority’ communities together if we are to truly tackle health inequalities.

Empowering patients with information at their fingertips

In our latest 25th anniversary blog, Joanna Dundon from Digital Health and Care Wales discusses how the right information at the right time can empower…

How health information in Scotland has evolved over 25 years

In the latest in our series of 25th anniversary blogs, Linsey Jonsson from Public Health Scotland looks at how health information has changed during that…

Exploring the history of The King's Fund

Deena Maggs, head of library services at The King's Fund, explores the organisation's 125-year history, including its support for the formation of PIF…

In conversation with PIF co-founder Mark Duman

An interview with PIF co-founder Mark Duman to celebrate our 25th anniversary.

'The next 25 years of health information will be challenging but interesting'

In the first of our 25th anniversary series of blogs long-standing PIF member Gary Birkenhead discusses the evolution of health information and the challenges…

Keeping health literacy in the spotlight: a strategic approach

Freelance health communications specialist Anneliese Levy discusses how to keep health literacy at the top of the agenda and create health-literacy optimised…

Measuring your impact – why bother?

PIF Chair Sue Farrington discusses the importance of measuring and evaluating impact in health information.

Health Information Challenges and Solutions Workshop spring 2022

Our first Health Information Challenges and Solutions Workshop of 2022 saw members discussing dissemination, accessibility and involving users.

Judging the quality of YouTube videos on COVID-19 – lessons learnt

PIF member and freelance writer Louise Coghlin investigates the quality and reliability of YouTube videos on Covid and Covid vaccines.

Promoting evidence-based health information

Dan Wills, manager of the PIF TICK scheme, explains why communicating evidence clearly in health information matters.

PIF TICK – one year on and looking to the future

As we mark one year of the PIF TICK – the UK quality mark for trusted health information – we unveil plans for our new public-facing website.

The Perfect Patient Information Journey (PPIJ) and integrated public private pathways

By Karen Harrowing, an independent adviser in healthcare governance, quality systems and medication safety.

Digital exclusion in the time of COVID-19

Holly Barrow, from the Immigration Advice Service, discusses digital exclusion during the coronavirus pandemic.

Health Information Challenges and Solutions 2021

We sum up the main talking points from our Health Information Challenges and Solutions workshop held on 23 March, 2021.

PIF: A year in review

Chair Sue Farrington looks back at what we learned in 2020 and our hopes for 2021.

Engaging Long COVID patients

Patient Safety Learning looks at some of the concerns facing people living with Long COVID.

'Together we can continue to ensure we move to a health literate world'

Dr Evelyn McElhinney PhD, RN Chair Health Literacy UK, responds to the recommendations of PIF's Health and Digital Literacy Survey Report

Using behavioural insights to encourage a return to care

Lack of information and fear of Covid-19 is preventing some patients from getting the healthcare they need. Applying behavioural insights to information…

Finding credible healthcare information

Sue Farrington, Chair of the Patient Information Forum, discusses why trust is crucial to patients and the public.

Why is health information important to me? It isn’t just my job

Dan Wills PIF’s Quality Manager and Lead Assessor for the PIF TICK explains why he is passionate about trustworthy health information.

Key practice points on user engagement

Sophie Randall collates key practice points from PIF's existing guidance in light of the Public Health England recommendations on communication and information.

Supercharged Superhero by Gemma Everson

Author hopes personal story will help other families struggling with invisible illnesses.

Event report – Using digital tools to maximise health information

Children's book aims to raise awareness of invisible illnesses

We talk to Gail Crampton, author of Rodney Meadow-Hopper, The Hare Who Didn't Care, about her inspiration and what she hopes the book will achieve.

Making digital services accessible

by Ian Roddis – Lead Product Manager for the NHS digital service manual

Event report – Health Information for Children and Young People

Letting the authentic voice of children and young people shine through

Is digital and social inclusion key to transformational change?

by Alexis Farrow – Head of Strategy and Transformation, Connected Nottinghamshire

Patient information a ‘linking thread’ at NHS Expo 2019

by Sophie Randall – Strategy and Project Management, Patient Information Forum

Health literacy challenge and the NHS Long Term Plan

by Sophie Randall – Strategy and Project Management, Patient Information Forum

Developing health information to engage everyone

by Sheena Campbell – Communications Manager, Patient Information Forum

Patient-centred care: all in this together

by Barbara Chidgey – Bevan Advocate and Executive Chair of the Leading Wales Awards

EU clinical trial sponsors to publish lay-friendly summaries of key findings

by Hannah Bridges – Freelance Writer, HB Health Comms Limited

Build trust and confidence to engage with seldom heard groups

by Sophie Randall – Strategy and Project Management, Patient Information Forum

NHS plan promises empowered and informed patients via digital tools

by Sophie Randall – Strategy and Project Management, Patient Information Forum

Changes in health information over the past 21 years – and the outlook for the future

by Rachael Twomey – Quality and Evaluation Officer, Macmillan Cancer Support

Health Information. How has it changed over the last 21 years?

by Vicky Mclaren – IT & Digital Program Manager, Pancreatic Cancer Action

Vlog: Celebrating 21 years of health information

by Ellie Rose – Patient Information Editor, Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust

Being heard above the noise

by Katie Salt – Information and Support Manager, Target Ovarian Cancer

Developing information for older people with long-term health conditions

by Flora Death – Information Development Manager, Independent Age

Reviewing public information issued by health and social care bodies

by Mike Etkind – Volunteer Panel Member, Healthwatch Bucks

Measuring and evaluating the impact of health information

by Sarah Greening – Patient Information Forum

Industry needs to work in partnership with patients and groups

by Sophie Randall – Strategy and Project Management, Patient Information Forum

Wales moves towards a digital health future for all

by Sophie Randall – Strategy and Project Management, Patient Information Forum

Helping the #HiddenHalf – health information for maternal mental health

by Anneliese Levy – Freelance Health Information Writer & Researcher

Patients encouraged to ask professionals about medicines

by Sophie Randall – Strategy and Project Management, Patient Information Forum

Users views needed on digital health records

by Sophie Randall – Strategy and Project Management, Patient Information Forum

Getting health information right impacts health outcomes

Blog by Amy Corkery – Editor, Patient Information, British Heart Foundation

Shifting the goalposts: the quest for a digital NHS

by Sue Farrington – Chair, Patient Information Forum