W3C-validated transitional XHTML What is this resource?
From
2008, everyone who has a long-term condition or social care need will
be offered an 'information prescription' (IP), in consultation with
a health or social care professional. IPs 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. This includes helpful and relevant information, for
example about conditions and treatments, care services, benefits,
and support groups. IPs will also contain links
or signposts to sources of information about local health, social
care, and other services - usually phone numbers, websites etc.
As you will quickly see, IPs can take very many forms, with many different types of information, and be issued by a wide range of different professionals and clinicians.
The Department of Health has funded the development of this online resource. Read a summary of what is contained in the resource [16 page tagged PDF: 626Kb] and the main points of learning from the pilot programme
Also available is a short flyer promoting this online resource [PDF, not tagged, 91KB] Please feel free to download the flyer and share the link with colleagues so they can see at a glance what the online resource offers and how it can help and support your organisation introduce information prescriptions locally.
If you would like a hard copy of the overview, you can request this via the Department of Health orderline, quoting the code 288509:
www.orderline.dh.gov.uk
or phone 0300 123 1002
or email: dh@prolog.uk.com
The resource contains ideas on how to get started and things you need to think about throughout the process. It also has many rich examples of information templates, prescribing procedures, patient leaflets, and so on, developed by the pilot sites.
Who is this resource for?
Are you a:
- social carer or community care practitioner?
- district nurse, GP, consultant, specialist nurse, member of staff at a hospital, community clinic or pharmacy?
- commissioner or director of health and social care services?
- patient, carer, volunteer or support group?
We are in the process of designing direct links from this page that highlight the value of this resource to you so you can see at a glance the value and benefits of information prescriptions and how you can play your part in:
- making a case for IPs in your own organisation, drawing on the experience of the 20 pilots
- planning the first essential steps: a) engaging users and carers in determining what information needs there are; b) gaining the active and enthusiastic participation of professionals and partner organisations; and c) sourcing and/or collecting and quality-assuring the information that will be included in your IPs.
- undertaking the necessary project planning, encouraging small beginnings and growing on success
- promoting IPs internally and externally, to raise awareness and encourage staff and users alike to participate in the process
- getting an effective and comprehensive IP system working in your local area, and then monitoring, evaluating and improving it through the evidence and experience you gain along the way.
The resource also includes examples of models and templates for IPs, good practice examples, hot tips and checklists.
The evaluation consortium has completed their final report on the Information Prescriptions Pilot Programme. The final report, and its appendices and summary, can be downloaded from the Department of Health website.
Some terms used in this resource
IP = information prescription. In this resource, we use this to refer either to the actual IP given to a patient or carer, or to the process that a health or social care organisation (and its partners) sets up so that it can issue IPs.
'professionals' and 'clinicians': IPs will be issued by people in a variety of roles in a wide range of health, social care and other local organisations. In this resource, we sometimes generalise these roles by referring to 'professionals' or 'clinicians'.
See also the glossary of terms in this resource.
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
Tel: 0113 254 6503
next page: how this resource is structured and how to use it
