Yesterday, on Drop the Jargon Day, we were proud to launch our Health Literacy Framework, which has been developed in consultation with our Consumer Health Literacy Review Group.
 
Research shows that between 40-80% of medical information received by patients is forgotten immediately. Our Health Literacy Framework is about how people understand information about health and healthcare, and how they apply that information to their lives and use it to make appropriate health decisions. This framework will support the development of health literacy skills across our region and help to improve the health outcomes of our community.
 
We will be working with health professionals across our region to:

• encourage health information that is easy to understand
• ensure the services we commission build the health literacy of the community
• develop the skills of primary care in to improve communication with their patients
• include health literacy strategies within their core activities

 
The Health Literacy Framework will help ensure that people across our region are appropriately supported and empowered to make informed decisions about their health and wellbeing, including prevention and treatment, and will support our local healthcare professionals to embed health literacy in all they do. I would like to thank the Consumer Health Literacy Review Group for their dedication and efforts on this initiative. We look forward to working with our commissioned services and primary care on this important initiative.