Access to health information should be improved
by:
ensuring that information is available
on all aspects of living with a long-term condition
Everyone
who is diagnosed with a long-term condition and
their carers should have access to appropriate
information on:
| •
|
diagnosis
and treatment |
| •
|
national
guidance and standards of care, including
what constitutes the best treatment |
| •
|
financial
issues, including charges for care and entitlement
to benefits |
| •
|
sources
of further information and support |
| •
|
what
they can do to improve their own health and
manage their life with their condition. |
making
information available in the widest possible range
of formats
| •
|
information
should be offered in a wide range of languages
and formats (including face-to-face, telephone-based,webbased,
electronic, printed and audiotapes). |
| •
|
specialist
techniques and tools should be employed to
ensure that people with communication difficulties
have the opportunity to receive information. |
| •
|
specific
strategies need to be put in place to meet
the information and advice needs of hard-to-reach
groups and those who do not currently access
information. |
reinforcing
information with one-to-one support tailored to
the needs of the individual
Information
by itself is not always enough. People should
be offered support in understanding and interpreting
information and what it means for individuals
and their lives.
