1. HealthInform The free and confidential health information service

2. What is HealthInform? A free, confidential health information service Offers members of the public patient focused information about medical conditions, to increase awareness of options for healthcare and well being Provides information in a format to suit the needs of each user Patient focused information for PCT staff to give to patients Training for PCT staff on how to access quality patient information HealthInform works to an operational policy which outlines the parameters of the service, details the role of the patient information officer, and what users can expect

3. What is HealthInform? Service based in Library at Edgware Community Hospital Offers regular one to one sessions at a range of venues across Barnet Service is also available by telephone, e-mail and post

4. What is HealthInform? Aimed at hard to reach and disadvantaged groups Active outreach programme including: attending key community events creating and maintaining strong links with community organisations local newsletter articles distributing promotional material advertising

5. What is HealthInform? Strong working relationships with other areas in PCT PALS Expert Patient Communications Link with public libraries

6. Case Study Mrs Narayan, a Gujarati speaking woman, accessed HealthInform at a community venue with an interpreter present She requested information on arthritis HealthInform enabled her to access Birmingham Arthritis Resource Centre, a specialist Gujarati speaking arthritis advice service

7. Case Study Mrs Narayan said HealthInform had been very helpful Discussing her concerns with someone who was willing to listen, with an interpreter present, enabled her to express her worries Talking directly to a Gujarati speaker at BARC made her feel as if someone understood, helped her to understand the information and put her mind at rest Receiving information in her own language meant she could refer to it as necessary, to reinforce what she had learned

8. Case Study Mrs Narayan eventually lost three stone of weight, through a combination of healthy diet and exercise! Her arthritis was significantly improved, and pain reduced She says this was directly due to the information and support HealthInform gave her

9. Evaluation Each user receives a feedback form Informal feedback from users at venues Informal feedback from staff at venues

10. Evaluation Evaluation carried out in 2006 found: “…wanted to know about diabetes. Christine showed him a video about it. It was very informative, he exercises every day now” “HealthInform provides deep information about the disease we are suffering from. The doctors can’t give us enough information”

11. Evaluation PCT are supportive of HealthInform and Library role in reaching out to local community HealthInform supports medical care Enables patients to make informed decisions and promotes well being

12. Lessons Learned It takes time to establish a new service An Operational Policy is extremely important Publicity and outreach need to be ongoing and continuous Useful consultations and successfully fulfilling information requests can be time consuming