1. Reading Well for long term conditions
Introduction
Reading Well for long-term conditions is a new public library scheme to support people living with long-term conditions and carers using recommended reading.
It is launching in public libraries in July 2017
The scheme builds on public libraries ever-increasing work around community health and wellbeing
Part of the Reading Well Books on Prescription programme, a key part of the Public Library Universal Health Offer.

2. Need
People with long term conditions account for 50% of all GP appointments.
Fifteen million people in England have one or more LTCs, and the number of people with multiple conditions (multi-morbidity) is rising.
Around 70% of the total healthcare spend in England is attributed to caring for people with long term conditions.
There is a huge need for an increase in support and information around long-term conditions. In the Department of Health’s Long Term Conditions Compendium of Information the following statistics are provided:
People with long term conditions account for 50% of all GP appointments
15 million people in England have one or more long-term condition, with ten million living with two or more long term conditions.
Around 70% of the total healthcare spend in England is attributed to caring for people with long-term conditions
Due to an ageing population, by 2030 Public Health England estimated that 40% of the working age population will have a long-term condition
In terms of existing support:
64% of people living with LTCs at present say they feel supported, so there is room for improvement.
On average people living with LTCs spend just four hours a year with a health professional and 8,756 hours self-managing so information provision will support and inform this self-management.

3. Can Reading Help?
There is an evidence-base around reading for health and wellbeing:
readingagency.org.uk/readingwell/evidencebase
Builds the key determinants of health: literacy, learning, resilience and empathy
Delivers:
Health information and advice
Book-based therapy
Mood-boosting fiction and poetry
Social reading/reading groups
There is evidence that reading can help. The evidence base for reading as a health and wellbeing tool can be found on The Reading Agency website.
Research shows that reading builds the key determinants of health and wellbeing including literacy, learning, skills and empathy.
For people with long-term conditions, reading can deliver:
Health information and advice which both encourages self-management and empowerment
The provision of high quality health information is embedded within NICE guidelines for both developing care plans and condition-specific guidelines.
Self help support for the psychological impact of living with a long-term condition
The opportunity to explore life experiences through the lens of fiction or memoir
The opportunity to engage in social reading communities such as reading groups and support groups

4. The Public Library Health Offer
Trusted community space
Assisted digital access
Access to key communities and vulnerable groups
Health information and signposting
National reading programmes
Social reading and recreational activity
Volunteering and engagement
The Public Library Health Offer is a shared strategy to advocate the public library contribution to the health and wellbeing of their communities.
The following key assets underpin the public library health offer:
A network of trusted, neutral and non-stigmatised community spaces
Assisted digital access which in turn allows people wider access to health information and online services
Access to targeted communities and vulnerable groups
A workforce in tune with the needs of their local community
As well as an unrivalled service offer including:
Health information and signposting
National reading programmes
Social and recreational activities such as reading groups and volunteering opportunities that keep people of all ages socially engaged.

5. Reading Well for long term conditions
Developed by the Society of Chief Librarians and The Reading Agency
Arts Council/Wellcome Trust funding
Endorsed by national health organisations
Delivered by local library services working with public health
Curated, quality assured self-help reading list helping young people to understand/manage their mental health
Using a referral/self-referral model
Universally available
Reading Well for young people represents an important new strand of the public library health offer.
It is responding to real need and delivering on local health priorities
Developed and delivered by national charity, The Reading Agency working in partnership with the Society of Chief Librarians, the Association of Children’s and Education Librarians, local library services and local and national health partners
Funded at a national level by the Arts Council and the Wellcome Trust and locally by local library services working with health partners mostly public health
Using the tried and tested Reading Well Books on Prescription model of a curated list to recommend quality assured self-help reading to support young people to understand and manage their mental health and wellbeing
The core book list is accredited by health partners
Books can be “recommended or prescribed” by health professionals, but they are also available on the open shelves for self referral.
Universal offer available in public libraries across England

6. Framework for Reading Well for long term conditions
For adults with a long term condition, friends and carers
Providing information and advice, support for specific conditions and common symptoms, help for carers
Conditions include arthritis, breathing difficulties, heart disease, bowel conditions and stroke
Range of reading levels and formats
Signposting to professional support and other library wellbeing activities
Reading Well for long-term conditions is focused on providing high-quality health information for adults with long term conditions and their carers
The scheme operates on both a self-referral and referral model, and supports a self-management model to encourage patients to take an active part in the decisions made around their health and wellbeing
The scheme provides general information on living well with a long-term condition, a focus on specific conditions including Diabetes, Stroke, IBS, Arthritis, Breathing difficulties (COPD and asthma) and heart failure (angina and heart disease), a focus on symptom specific titles (pain management, sleeping difficulties, fatigue and mental health conditions prevalent in people living with a long-term condition), a section for carers and family, and a section for memoir and fiction
The list includes a range of different formats and reading levels, to insure it is as accessible to a wide range of audiences
The scheme promotes empowerment of people living with long term conditions, supports living well and self-care and self-management models
Being a community intervention, it also allows for public services to work together to support the health and wellbeing of their communities
As well as signposting to sources of professional help and support and recommending other library well activities such as reading groups and volunteering opportunities.

7. Quality Assured Process
Responding to need
Delivering public health policy priorities
Evidence based and working within clinical guidelines
Developed with expert support
Co-creation with people with lived experience
A robust and rigorous development process guarantees the delivery of a quality assured evidence-based community service provision for people living with a long term condition
Delivering on key health priorities identified through extensive mapping prevailance, cost to the NHS and the wider economy and priorities of key leading health bodies
Delivers within clinical guidelines, within a clear and reliable evidence-base
Developed with expert support facilitated
Co-created with young people including those with lived experience

8. Co-production with people with lived experience
Co-produced with experts by experience in partnership
In partnership with the Coalition for Collaborative Care
Feedback on format and approach, books language and design of materials.
The development of Reading Well for long-term conditions was supported by an extensive co-production programme by the Coalition for Collaborative Care.
This included the development of a programme of workshops with people with lived experience of long-term conditions
We have been working alongside the co-production group at the Coalition for Collaborative care on the range of conditions for inclusion, book selection, design, marketing and engagement and delivery strategies.

9. Reading Well National Evidence
Reach: 625,000 people
100% increase in loans of common mental health conditions titles
346% increase in loans of dementia titles
6,500 prescribers using the scheme regularly
Positive feedback on the scheme and the value of libraries’ health role
263% increase in loans of young people’s mental health titles
The evidence from existing Reading Well Books on Prescription scheme proves the model works.
Yearly evaluation demonstrates powerful evidence of reach and real value for users, the health sector and partners
In three years, the scheme has reached over half a million people with quality-assured, health expert endorsed information
There has been a 100% increase in loans of titles on the common mental health conditions list, a 346% increase in the borrowing of dementia titles and a 263% increase in the young people’s title
6,500 prescribers are using the scheme with positive feedback on its value for patients

10. User Impact 90% were better able to understand their condition
81% felt more confident managing their symptoms
71% increase their understanding of the number and range of sources of support available
74% of those who classified themselves as carers felt that the book helped them to care for someone
By evaluating the scheme annually, we have a strong idea of the user impact of the scheme, a few key statistics:
90% of adult users of the common mental health conditions scheme felt they were better able to understand their conditions
81% of adult users of the common mental health conditions scheme felt more confident managing their symptoms
71% of users of the dementia scheme agreed it had increased their understanding of the number and range of sources of support available
74% of users of the dementia scheme who classified themselves as carers felt that the book helped them to care for someone with dementia

11. Partnership Model Delivering Value for Money
80% of library authorities working with health partners
Funding for book collections, leaflets, events
Support for partnership building and prescriber support
Free digital resources and support for health professionals
There is already a strong partnership model in place supporting Reading Well
Around 80% of library services working with health partners mostly public health, CCGs and primary care funders
Providing support for libraries with partnership building and building prescriber support
Including funding partnerships for library book collections, purchase of leaflets and posters and events.
The core book collection costs £350 and leaflets £6.75 for a pack of 100

12. The Final Word
‘We know that better information leads to better choices about health and better self care. Innovative programmes like this, that align the health system with community services like libraries, could really improve the health and wellbeing of the general public.’
James Kingsland, President National Association of Primary Care
The final word from a GP and president of the National Association of Primary Care makes clear the value for health partners and the public of library health schemes such as Reading Well for long-term conditions

13. [Local contact details] www.reading-well.org.uk
Insert local contact details