Asking: A way to know if others understand

Weekly news round up – 15 January 2020

Improving care using patient feedbackThe National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) has published a themed review of its research into patient feedback.Improving…

Healthwatch launches #SpeakUp2020 campaign

Healthwatch has launched its #SpeakUp2020 campaign.The campaign encourages everybody to speak up about what would make health and social care services…

Weekly news round up – 8 January 2020

NHS App users more than double in three monthsThe number of patients using the NHS App has more than doubled since Chief Nurse Ruth May announced the…

Detecting and diagnosing Alzheimer’s disease

An investigation by Alzheimer's Research UK and MSD has examined public attitudes to early detection and diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease.Alzheimer's…

Weekly news round up – 18 December 2019

Shared decision making: why the slow progress?In this essay, Neal Maskrey discusses why, after more than 40 years of research and policy endorsement,…

Marie Curie publishes managing breathlessness booklet

Marie Curie has created a new booklet to help people living with breathlessness. It covers information on how the lungs work, medicines to help breathlessness…

Weekly news round up – 11 December 2019

Four design principles for digital healthThe Digital Healthcare Council has set out four key design principles it believes are essential to create a vibrant…

Nutrition and Diet Resources UK launches NDR Prescribe

Nutrition and Diet Resources UK has launched a digital resource delivery system.NDR Prescribe allows health professionals to prescribe personalised resources…

Weekly news round up – 3 December 2019

Self Care Week surveyOrganisations and individuals who took part in Self Care Week 2019 are being asked to take part in a short survey.This year, more…

Anthony Nolan launches first audiobook

Anthony Nolan has launched its first audiobook to help more people access its support and advice.'Managing fatigue after transplant' is narrated by actor…

Weekly news round up – 28 November 2019

Taskforce on Multiple Conditions to hold webinarThe Taskforce on Multiple Conditions is planning a ‘learn and share’ webinar in January 2020.It will be…

Crohn's & Colitis UK launches In My Shoes app

A new app allows people to experience first-hand how Crohn's or Colitis can affect every part of someone's body and every aspect of their lives.Last week…

Weekly news round up – 20 November 2019

Patient empowerment is vitalTo mark Self Care Week Dr Pete Smith, president of the Self Care Forum, has written this blog on why patient empowerment is…

Epilepsy Action resource is Just for kids

Epilepsy Action has produced a series of resources specifically for children with the condition.Just for kids includes animated films, an activity pack…

Weekly news round up – 14 November 2019

Self Care Week 2019Self Care Week, an annual national awareness week focusing on providing support for self care, is back from 18-24 November.This year's…

New video highlights REACH service at Evelina London

A new video highlights the REACH service at Evelina London.REACH provides intensive, play-based therapy to children with weakness on one side.As part…

Weekly news round-up – 6 November 2019

Survey: LGBT Patients’ Experiences of Primary CareThe LGBT Foundation Patients’ Experiences of Primary Care Annual Survey is now live.Running until 19…

Macmillan launches new tool for people with cancer-related fatigue

Macmillan and the University of Southampton have developed a new online resource to support people with cancer-related fatigue. This new resource…

Job: Writer/Editor – Independent Age

Job role: Writer/Editor, Independent AgeLocation:  London OfficeSalary:  £28,000Closing Date:  Sunday 10 November 2019Reference: …

Job: Health Information Coordinator, Prostate Cancer UK

Role: Health Information Coordinator, Prostate Cancer UKSalary: £26,138 per annumLocation: Central LondonJob type: Full-time, permanentDeadline…

Survey: LGBT Patients’ Experiences of Primary Care

Running until 19 November, the survey asks about people’s experiences of accessing healthcare services from their GP, dentist, pharmacist and optometrist.It…

Pancreatic Cancer UK publishes Demand Survival Now

Demand Survival Now calls upon the government to commit to a series of changes.It says pancreatic cancer has been absent from cancer strategies and plans…

Weekly news round-up – 30 October 2019

Artificial Intelligence: How to get it rightNHSX has published a new report on putting policies into practice for safe, data-driven innovation in…

How patient stories can improve health services around the world

It contains a number of papers which look at expectations and experiences of health services from the perspective of service users, their carers…

Why we need a sector-wide emphasis on accessible health information

In this article for PharmaPhorum, our projects and partnerships manager Sophie Randall spoke to Amanda Barrell about the need to balance evidence-based…

Using patient experience data to improve inpatient mental health care

It examines how patient experience and feedback is obtained in inpatient mental health care settings and how it can be used to create…

Call for search engines to crack down on counterfeit medications

Brand protection provider Incopro found six out of ten results for Bactrim led to locations ‘very likely to be operating unlawfully’.It also claims…

Helping organisations support older people with digital

The toolkit was published to mark Get Online Week – the UK’s largest digital inclusion campaign.It aims to help organisations support older…

National roll-out of electronic prescription service

Primary care minister Jo Churchill announced the move on Saturday (19 October) saying it would make staff and patients’ lives easier.The electronic prescription…

Understanding medical information is harder than you think

Non-profit patient-empowerment organisation Zaggo says struggling to understand and use health information can negatively affect health status, outcomes…

Can patient-centred care plus shared decision making lower costs?

Bernhoven is famous among hospitals around the globe for its hospital-wide, patient centred approach.In 2014, Bernhoven began its five year strategy Better…

‘Please don’t call me mum’

Stephanie’s daughter Daisy was born with a rare genetic condition in 2004.She says being referred to as ‘mum’ immediately created a power-based relationship…

CQC publishes State of Care report

The Care Quality Commission’s annual assessment of health and social care in England shows quality ratings have been maintained overall – but people’s…

New platform launched to support mental health

Every Mind Matters was launched by Public Health England and the NHS at the start of Mental Health Awareness Week.The platform includes everything from…

‘We could learn a lot from patients about integrated care’

In this podcast, she discusses how patient experiences tell us almost everything we need to know about healthcare services.Lesley says trusts are…

Tools to increase health literacy

The article includes data supporting the importance of health literacy, discusses the role of shared decision making and shares some key resources which…

New guide for young people with autism

Assessment and diagnosis of autism: what to expect for young people and their families is aimed at young people of secondary school age.It explains why…

Knowvember19 – how to get involved

Launched in 2018, Knowvember is a chance for librarians and knowledge specialists to showcase the many ways they mobilise evidence and knowledge.It…

The medical illiteracy epidemic

He discusses how an encounter with a young couple whose baby needed to be delivered early made him realise that, even if he empathises with a patient…

Improving health literacy in immigrant communities

Anchorage, Alaska, has a large immigrant and refugee population.Many speak limited English and most are unfamiliar with where, or how, to obtain health…

Self care before surgery

She discusses how patients can improve their physical and mental health prior to surgery, including using the Fitter, Better, Sooner toolkit produced…

New tool for local health literacy figures

Ruth Carlyle, Strategic Lead NHS library and knowledge services – East of England and Midlands, worked with the Universities of Newcastle and Southampton…

Pharmacist-led intervention for patients using long-term opioids

Researchers from the University of Keele will develop the intervention based on patients’ own experiences with long-term pain as well as advice from pharmacists…

How people travel to and from NHS services

The organisation will be working with NHS England to support its new national review of the links between the NHS and local transport.Between March…

Is social prescribing the future?

Amanda Barrell’s article for Pharmafield looks at how social prescribing has been hailed as the future of health and social care and asks if we are…

NHS Bill recommendations published

The Long Term Plan included several proposed changes to the law which the organisation believed would help meet its 10-year goals.Earlier this year, staff,…

Versus Arthritis launches #PainNoFilter campaign

#PainNoFilter aims to show the reality of living with the pain of arthritis and related conditions – no airbrushing, no filters, just a single image of…

Reviewing work conversations in healthcare

PHE’s ‘work as a health outcome’ programme seeks to encourage healthcare professionals to have supportive conversations about work and health with…

Get Online Week 2019

Get Online Week, run by the Good Things Foundation, runs 14-20 October.Around 5.3 million people in the UK have never been online according to the Good…

Trialling tailored web-based information for older patients

Many patients with cancer, including older patients aged 65 or over, consult the web to prepare for a doctor’s visit.In particular, older patients have…

Fifteen years’ use of patient-reported outcomes

A new paper highlights trends from 15 years of patient-reported outcome (PRO) data.The paper highlights trends with respect to patient inclusion,…

Still time to get involved in Self Care Week

The Self Care Forum has published a list of ways organisations and individuals can participate in the awareness event. Ideas include:Holding a small event…

Text reminders increase attendance at NHS health checks

Sending text messages reminding people to book their NHS health check following their invitation letter increases attendance, according to a study analysed…

Technology enables deaf people to access NHS 111

Technology is enabling the deaf community to access NHS 111 when they need urgent medical help.Using a computer and webcam, or the InterpreterNow…

Addressing health literacy in schools

Addressing health literacy in schools in the WHO European Region argues the education system as a whole, and schools in particular, are important settings…

Using health communication to improve population health

The ongoing American Healthy People 2020 campaign sets a 10-year agenda for improving the nation’s health.One of the key objectives is to use health…

Push for improved health literacy definition

Salud America! aims to inspire people to drive community change for the health of Latino and all children.Earlier this year, the Department of Health…

Health Literacy Month begins

The annual, worldwide awareness event runs until 31 October and aims to shine a spotlight on innovators in the field of health literacy.Throughout…

NHS hospitals go back to the future for dementia care

It is hoped the changes will create a calming, familiar environment which can help jog memories, reduce anxiety and distress.Innovations range from a ‘memories…

Human experience matters most

The latest edition of Patient Experience features a number of patients helping the NHS Leadership Academy to think about ‘patient leadership’.One…

PIF Quality Mark pilot announced

The Patient Information Forum (PIF) is to pilot a new quality mark to help people identify trustworthy, high-quality health information, it…

The impact of a no-deal Brexit on health and care

The King’s Fund, the Health Foundation and Nuffield Trust have sent an open letter to MPs summarising the four major areas where the impact of a no deal…

Updated advice on accessible meetings and events

The Social Care Institute for Excellence has updated its online resource for anyone who is organising an event and wants to make it accessible.It is a…

Study: Impact of virtual reality on children’s pain during procedures

A new study has found virtual reality shows promise in helping to distract children from self-reported pain and anxiety during medical procedures.Authors…

Digital diabetes prevention rolled out as part of Long Term Plan

Thousands of people at risk of Type 2 diabetes will receive digital support to prevent them developing the condition as part of the NHS Long Term Plan.In…

Study: Sources of information used by patients prior to elective surgery

A new scoping review aims to describe the range and nature of available research regarding sources of information patients access to inform their decisions…

Strong bones after 50: fracture liaison services explained

The Royal College of Physicians has launched a guide and animation providing jargon-free information to patients and carers for supporting older…

Navigating the patient feedback maze

A new paper reviews what types of patient experience feedback are currently available, categorising them by their characteristics in order to better understand…

Improvement Fundamentals in a Day toolkit published

A new toolkit has been published, providing all the resources needed to run a local quality improvement workshop without expertise.Improvement Fundamentals…

NHS England publishes online elective care handbooks

A collection of handbooks setting out best practice and ‘how-to’ solutions for each of the 14 high-volume elective care specialities has been published…

New directory showcases innovative community-centred models

Think Local Act Personal (TLAP) has launched a new online resource showcasing support which is innovative in its approach to improving people’s health…

Applications open for NHS Community Grants 2019

Applications are now open for Community Grants 2019 – sharing and celebrating patient and public involvement in healthcare.NHS England and NHS Improvement…

Patient experience is the weakest of the three arms of quality

In this new series Jeremy Taylor, former chief executive of National Voices, talks to people undertaking work with patients, families and carers.In…

Using online patient feedback to improve care

A new guide has been launched supporting clinical, patient experience and quality teams to understand how to use online feedback to improve healthcare.Available…

How to survive fake news about cancer

In this article David Robert Grimes discusses the prevalence of cancer myths and ‘bogus treatments’ online.He outlines the concerns of many organisations…