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Organising information
Section one:
Organising information
A patient and carer information strategy
What is good quality information and how to assess and assure it
Action on Neurology – Practical Guide reports the lessons learnt by the Action On pilot sites. These were short term projects supported by the Department of Health (through the Modernisation Agency) to try out ways of improving neurological services.
It is recommended that having a patient information strategy helps to ensure that patients and carers receive accurate and up to date information about their condition and the support available.
- Developing a patient and carer information strategy could be a useful role for a local neurological network.
- It is useful to map; where people with neurological conditions are likely to seek information; where people access information and what is currently available in those locations. A useful starting point is the flow diagram on Page 15 of Action on Neurology.
The NHS Institute for Innovation and Improvement guidance High impact changes for practice teams identifies supporting self care as one of the nine “high impact” changes that general practices can make to maximise their effectiveness. This good practice guide recommends that general practices:
- signpost patients to available external support for self care.
- ensure that the practice maintains a list of local community contacts and support networks.
- review, with patients, the adequacy of information provided for patients and carers.
Sourced from the High impact changes for practice teams, NHS Institute for Innovation and Improvement and Improvement Foundation, 2006.
