About the information prescription project

The Department of Health white paper 'Our health, our care, our say' published in January 2006 made a commitment to improving access to appropriate information for people with health or social care needs. It stated, 'We propose that services give all people with long-term health and social care needs and their carers an 'information prescription'.

From 2008, information prescriptions will be offered to everyone with a long-term condition or social care need, in consultation with a health or social care professional. Information prescriptions will guide people to relevant and reliable sources of information to allow them to feel more in control and better able to manage their condition and maintain their independence.

Information prescriptions will be nationally recognised as a source of key information on services and care that is seamlessly and formally integrated into the care process.

Why information prescriptions?

Information plays a crucial role in supporting people with long-term conditions to take care of themselves and improve their quality of life. Up to now, there has been no way to ensure that a person will have access to or receive the right information when they need it most – at diagnosis and as their needs continue. Information prescriptions will give everyone access to the information they need, at the right time.

How can I get an information prescription?

If you are a professional, patient, service user, or carer, and would like to access national information on a number of long-term conditions, you can create your own information prescription on the NHS Choices website.

What will information prescriptions contain?

Information prescriptions will contain a series of links or signposts to guide people to sources of information about their health and care – for example information about conditions and treatments, care services, benefits advice and support groups.

Information prescriptions will let people know where to get advice, where to get support and where to network with others with a similar condition. They will include addresses, telephone numbers and website addresses that people may find helpful, and show where they can go to find out more. They will help people to access information when they need it and in the ways that they prefer.

Why was there a pilot programme in 2007?

To ensure the successful design and delivery of information prescriptions nationally, we recruited 20 sites to test and provide evidence of their effectiveness and their impact on the public, professionals and organisations. The information and momentum built through this piloting phase will be used to develop the final strategy for delivering the full scheme in 2008, when information prescriptions will be rolled out nationally.

The project is being supported by a consortium of three organisations – OPM, the University of York and GfK – and overseen by a project board. Find out more about the consortium and the project board.

This website

This website was originally set up to benefit health and social care professionals involved in the information prescription pilot sites to stay in touch, learn what each other was doing and share information. It nows includes all the learning from the pilots, including the interim report, summary report and final evaluation report. The site also includes an online resource pack which provides helpful guidance and templates for organisations planning or developing their own information prescription programme.

If you would like to know more about how to introduce information prescriptions within your local organisation, please contact:

Rachel Porter
Project Manager - Information Prescriptions
Patient & Public Empowerment
Department of Health

Rachel.Porter@dh.gsi.gov.uk