What is health literacy?
Health literacy is about people being able to understand health information. It’s about us making it easier for them to do this. It’s talking to patients using everyday words. It’s writing to them in a way that’s clear. This helps our patients make informed choices about their health.
It is important that health information is written in a way that can be understood so that people can make informed choices about their health. The average reading age of adults in the UK is 9-11 years old. Half of adults find it hard to understand health information. So they struggle to use it to help their health and wellbeing. This creates health inequalities.
People with low health literacy:
We can all share clearer health information. We can all speak and write in ways that make it easier for our patients to understand.
We can write in a clear way, at the average UK reading age. We can use as little medical jargon as possible. We can talk about health using everyday words.
We can check with patients if we’ve explained clearly before they go home. The regional health literacy team is here to help with this.
Our work
Our goal is to make sure that the North East and North Cumbria Integrated Care System (NENC ICS) communicates information to all people in a way that is easy for them to understand.
Click here to see a copy of the work plan for the regional health literacy team.
Click here to see the PowerPoint video of our work plan.
Meet the team
Find us: We are based at South Tyneside District Hospital but cover the whole of the North East and North Cumbria Region.
Contact us: stsft.nenchealthliteracy@nhs.net
Health Literacy Training
We are creating different levels of training that will help you to understand health literacy and how to use it in your work.
Available training
We have dates available for Health Literacy Awareness and How to Write Simply training. Click on the links below to book a place.
Virtual webinars
Ever wondered what health literacy is all about? Want to know why it matters and how it can help?
This session will give you a short introduction to health literacy. You will find out what health literacy is and what you can do to make it better. You’ll learn how it affects patients, carers, families and the wider community and how better health literacy can make it easier for everyone to engage in their health and wellbeing.
Health Literacy Awareness – 26/09/2024 at 1:00pm
Health Literacy Awareness – 15/10/2024 at 10:00am
Health Literacy Awareness – 20/11/2024 at 1:00pm
Health Literacy Awareness – 17/12/2024 at 10:00am
Health Literacy Awareness – 23/01/2025 at 1:00pm
Health Literacy Awareness – 12/02/2025 at 10:00am
Health Literacy Awareness – 20/03/2025 at 1:00pm
How to Write Simply
Got some health information to write and don’t know where to start? Want to know how to make your writing clearer?
This session will show you how to write clearly and simply. We’ll give you tips and tools to help make your writing as readable as possible.
When health information is clear and simple, people understand their health better. They can make more informed choices, and be more active in their health and wellbeing.
How to Write Simply – 26/09/2024 at 2:30pm
How to Write Simply – 15/10/2024 at 11:30am
How to Write Simply – 20/11/2024 at 2:30pm
How to Write Simply – 17/12/2024 at 11:30am
How to Write Simply – 23/01/2025 at 2:30pm
How to Write Simply – 12/02/2025 at 11:30am
How to Write Simply – 20/03/2025 at 2:30pm
Face to face sessions
Face-to-face health literacy training is now available. Our face-to-face training includes a Speaking Simply session.
The Speaking Simply session will make you aware of the importance of good communication. You will learn about the impact that low health literacy has on people and organisations and when verbal interactions can be improved.
During this interactive session you will learn some tips and techniques for making your conversations engaging and impactful.
The following dates are available. You can book on all 3 session or just the sessions you need.
Face-to-face health literacy training at Cumberland Infirmary on Thursday 14 November 2024.
See attached flier for information. Email stsft.nenchealthliteracy@nhs.net to book a place on 1 or all the sessions.
Face-to-face health literacy training at Northumbria Health and Care Academy on Monday 9 December 2024.
See attached flier for information. Email stsft.nenchealthliteracy@nhs.net to book a place on 1 or all the sessions.
Face-to-face health literacy training at Wigton Hospital on Wednesday 19 February 2025.
See attached flier for information. Email stsft.nenchealthliteracy@nhs.net to book a place on 1 or all the sessions.
Coming soon
A Train the Trainer programme will soon be available. Details will be shared on this page.
Other courses that you may find helpful
Health Literacy Toolkit
Here you can find some writing advice. The links below give useful advice on writing in a simple way.
Type or copy and paste your writing into this webpage. It will suggest how to make it clearer. For example, it will highlight sentences that are too long, written in the passive voice, or words people might find hard.
Click here to view the guide.
Health Literacy Community of Practice
North East and Yorkshire Health Literacy Community of Practice
Health Innovation North East North Cumbria (HI NENC) are working with Health Innovation Yorkshire and Humber to provide a way to share learning about health literacy through a Health Literacy Community of Practice. Colleagues from outside of health and social care who may work in local libraries, education, communications and community engagement are all welcome to join this community of practice.
We welcome colleagues from outside health and social care who may work in local libraries, education, communications and community engagement groups to join this community of practice. Please help us by letting others know about this community.
To join the community of practice please contact yoyo.kwan@healthinnovationnenc.org.uk or Victoria.strassheim@healthinnovationnenc.org.uk
NHS Futures Platform
Health Innovation NENC have created an NHS Futures Platform to support the work of the Health Literacy Community of Practice. If you would like to join the NHS Futures Platform, please request an invitation via FutureNHS Collaboration Platform - FutureNHS Collaboration Platform
By joining the NHS Futures Platform, you will be automatically updated on the activity of the community.
