Resources to share

This section has been developed so that pilots could share resources and sources of learning with each other and the wider health community.

Patient Information Forum: Information Prescription Conference - 21 November 2007

Over 100 delegates attended this conference held in London at The Royal Society.

During the conference, the DH presented a plenary session describing the latest national developments and hosted two parallel workshops attended by half the delegates. In addition, four pilots presented aspects of their work to delegates. The full conference programme, a number of the presentations and details of the workshop feedback are available here.

Oxfordshire pilot site has told us about ...

The Change Website

This website is a resource created by people with learning disabilities and sensory impairments. It provides information, sells publications -- including CD-ROMs of images -- and has links to other resources. Established because 'accessible information gives people with learning disabilities more power control and choice ...', it is a valuable source of advice on areas like:

making your information more accessible, including the use of appropriate images,
making meetings easier for people with learning disabilities,
other tips for good communication,

and much more. Visit the website at www.changepeople.co.uk

Information about the Map of Medicine workshops

One of the aims of the piloting programme is to identify these common requirements and, where possible, look at ways in which they may be taken forward with additional DH funding. A workshop was held with representatives from the DH, the Map of Medicine and information prescriptions pilot sites on 26 April, with the aim of defining these requirements. Read more about the Map of Medicine workshop here.

Self care

Self Care section on DH website
Research shows that supporting self care can improve health outcomes, increase patient satisfaction and help in deploying the biggest collaborative resource available to the NHS and social care - patients and the public.

The Expert Patients Programme
The Expert Patients Programme is a self-management course giving people the confidence, skills and knowledge to manage their condition better and be more in control of their lives.

Chronic Disease Management
In this compendium, the DH have brought together much of the evidence about chronic disease from the UK and around the world. We hope it will support people who provide care for those who suffer from chronic diseases, and inform those that commission and manage the services that provide care for people with chronic diseases.

Books on prescription

Suffolk pilot site has told us about about 'books on prescription'. This is a scheme that was originally developed in Wales in 2004 but is now being used more widely including by libraries in Suffolk. It includes about 20 self-help books recommended by clinicians (whittled down from a list of about 500) for different areas of mental health and relationships. There are for example ones on anger, anxiety, bereavement etc. Suffolk has piloted the scheme in Ipswich and is now taking it out county-wide. Find out more about books on prescription here.

A framework for action on the Healthcare for London website

A Framework for Action, July 2007, details how Professor Ara Darzi believes London's healthcare needs to change over the next ten years. It also looks beyond the vision and identifies the key enablers that will turn the vision into reality. The page contains: A Framework for Action, working group reports, a video and other information gathered and used by Professor Ara Darzi as he reviewed healthcare in London.