Department of Health

Website of the Department of Health

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Better information, better choices, better health

‘We must continue to empower patients with greater choice, better information, and more control and influence’

High quality care for all

Giving public and patients good information not only enables them to understand their health requirements but also helps them to make effective choices that are right for them and their families. Information is essential for people making choices about their care. We are creating new ways to make information relevant, trustworthy and timely for everybody, so that in the future everybody has the right to choose.

Information accreditation scheme

The aim of the information accreditation scheme is to support people to judge for themselves what the quality of information means to them and improve the availability of good quality information available for all.

Information prescriptions

Information prescriptions will guide people to relevant and reliable sources of information to enable them to feel more in control and better able to manage their condition and maintain their independence.

Copying Letters to Patients

The Copying Letters to Patients initiative is based on the principle that 'letters between clinicians about an individual patient's care will be copied to the patient' (NHS Plan, 2000) and is an effective way of keeping patients up-to-date with their diagnosis and treatment and demonstrates a commitment to proactive communication.

HealthSpace

HealthSpace is a secure website that can be used as an online personal health organiser.

NHS Direct Interactive

At the end of January 2005, local NHS services information went live on NHS Direct Interactive. Users can now search for details of their nearest doctors, dentists, pharmacies and opticians by inputting their postcode details.

NHS Choices

NHS Choices is a comprehensive information service to help people find reliable information about treatments, conditions and healthy living. It also provides access to online services such as appointment booking and the ability for patients to comment on their hospital experience. The aim of NHS Choices is to support the public to make informed choices about their health and well-being.

Questions to ask: getting the most out of your appointment

Published: 15/10/2007 9:57

Questions and tips – previously named ‘Power questions’ - developed through an extensive consultation, and now available in a number of formats, posters, easy read, large print, audio, braille and a two-sided A5 leaflet in English and a range of other languages.

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