• Information
• Publications
• Glossary
• Neurological centres
• Headstrong
• Information Access toolkit
  • About the Toolkit
  • Overview of the Toolkit
  • How to use the Toolkit
  • How this Toolkit was developed
  • Information is important
  • Section one: Setting up systems
  • Section two: Providing a named contact
  • Section three: Information about local services
  • Section four: Information on managing a condition
  • Section five: Information about social inclusion
  • Section six: Assessing information needs
  • Resource Pages
• Communication skills project

Information is a priority. Improving the information provided to people with long-term neurological conditions can help NHS and social care organisations to improve their overall service, meet Government targets and comply with the requirements of inspections.

• Information is highlighted as a priority by the Department of Health in the Care Standards and Planning Framework.
• Information provision has been highlighted by the Healthcare Commission as an issue of concern.
• The White Paper Our health, our care, our say: a new direction for community services highlights information provision for people with a long-term condition.
• The Clinical Negligence Scheme for Trusts (CNST) Standards make a number of requirements about the processes for providing information.
• Improving the provision of information to people affected by neurological conditions will also contribute to the implementation of a number of NICE Guidelines.
• Promoting patient self care and self management is identified by the NHS Institute for Innovation and Improvement as one of the nine “high impact” changes that general practices can make to maximise their effectiveness.

This is a summary of the evidence and guidance. A full and referenced outline of the drivers for providing information well can be downloaded here. This could be used to make the case for prioritising the improvement of information provision locally.

The Long-term (Neurological) Conditions NSF sets out the following evidence-based markers of good practice for information provision for people affected by neurological conditions.

Arrangements are in place to ensure that:

• All people with long-term neurological conditions have a named point of contact for advice and information.

Local arrangements for providing information ensure that:

• People receive timely, quality assured, culturally appropriate information in a range of formats on:
  - All relevant aspects of service provision
  - The condition and how best to manage it
  - Wider social inclusion issues (e.g. employment and transport)
• Health and social care professionals, people with long-term neurological conditions and carers receive appropriate training on effective ways to provide and use information. Assessment of information needs is part of review and any interaction with health and social services.

Progress on these markers of good practice can be assessed by using the self assessment tool at www.longtermconditions.csip.org.uk. This toolkit is structured so that it mirrors the relevant questions in this self assessment tool and supports health and social care professionals and PCTs in meeting these requirements.

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