Health Support
Easy Read Information
What is easy read information
As AbilityNet suggest
“Easy Read is a way of making written information easier to understand.
Easy Read documents usually combine short, jargon-free sentences with simple, clear images to help explain the content. It is increasingly used to help the 1.5 million people who have a learning disability in the UK.
However, Easy Read can also be useful for people who speak English as a second language; people who find it hard to read and write; people who have memory problems; or people who are in a hurry or are stressed.”
What is Easy Read? | AbilityNet
Websites supporting people with a learning disability have some very good easy read information
From Mencap
Easy read leaflets covering many topics which can impact on health
- Advice and Support Access Learning Disability Advice and Support | Mencap
- Health Health and Learning Disability – Advice and Support | Mencap
Further links to websites supporting people with a learning disability can be found under
other Common sources of easy read information
Below some commonly used sources of easy read information are covered:
Health information
From Easy Health
“Easy read health information (leaflets and videos) about health conditions. All our leaflets are free to download”
- Common Health Conditions Common Health Conditions | Easy Health
- Other health conditions Other health conditions | Easy Health
From A Picture of Health
This resource created by NHS Southwest provides some excellent leaflets
Home Home | A Picture of Health | Making Health Information Easier
From Beyond Words
Support for people who cannot read or do not like written words with picture stories for various health topics, which include a suggested storyline for family members, carers or health professionals to refer to. Free downloads — Beyond Words
Support in any NHS appointment, including at your GP practice
Getting the most from any NHS appointment
From NHS Knowledge and Library Services
“Get ready to talk about your health” prepares people for what to do before they go for a consultation with any health or care provider.
- Easy read patient leaflet Getting ready for a talk about your health
What to ask in any NHS appointment
From NHS Knowledge and Library Services
“3 questions for better health” suggests what to ask when people have a healthcare appointment.
- Easy read patient leaflet 3 questions for better health
Further explanation of the 2 patient leaflets from NHS Knowledge and Library Services
Easy read guides to health choices and questions to ask
Practice services
From NHS England
GP online services – easy read guides NHS England » GP online services – easy read guides
From Gov UK
Flu vaccination: easy-read flu vaccination resources Flu vaccination: easy-read flu vaccination resources – GOV.UK
From Gov UK
- Cervical screening: an easy guide (includes link Beyond Words cervical screening picture story) Cervical screening: an easy guide – GOV.UK
- An easy guide to cervical screening pdf
Video from NHS England
Accessing cervical screening with the right support for people with a learning disability Accessing cervical screening with the right support for people with a learning disability – YouTube
National helpline
Further information including a national helpline can be found under
There are leaflets from Easy Health which cover other aspects of the practice including “A visit to the doctor” and “A visit to the practice nurse”.
Screening
The leaflets on screening tell you about free NHS tests you can have to check if you have a health problem. The leaflets cover common NHS tests including bowel, breast, cervical screening which are well explained in the leaflets:
From Gov UK
Easy read leaflets:
- Abdominal aortic aneurysm screening: easy guide – GOV.UK
- Bowel cancer screening: easy guide – GOV.UK
- Breast screening: easy guide – GOV.UK
- Cervical screening: an easy guide – GOV.UK
- Chlamydia: easy read information about testing – GOV.UK
- Diabetic eye screening: easy read guide – GOV.UK
- Screening tests for you and your baby: easy guides – GOV.UK
From Beyond Words
Support for people who cannot read or do not like written words with picture stories for various health topics, which include a suggested storyline for family members, carers or health professionals to refer to. Includes a number of leaflets on screening. Free downloads — Beyond Words
NHS services including local hospitals
From Buckinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust
- Communication aids Communication aids – Learning Disabilities – LibGuides at Buckinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust
- Patients with learning disabilities and autism Patients with learning disabilities and autism – Buckinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust
From Wexham Park Hospital and Heatherwood Hospital (Frimley Health NHS Foundation Trust)
Learning disability liaison nurses Learning disability liaison service | NHS Frimley Health Foundation Trust
From Hillingdon Hospital
Responding to the needs of people with learning disabilities Responding to the needs of people with learning disabilities | The Hillingdon Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
From Oxford university Hospitals NHS foundation trust
Has a good section on easy read leaflets which is easy to follow
Easy read leaflets for you Easy Read – Oxford University Hospitals
From Mencap
You can download their hospital passport
Help in hospital – Hospital passports Health Guides: Hospital Passports, Summary Care Records And Flu Jabs | Mencap
A good source of more easy read leaflets for a visit to a hospital
From The Leeds Teaching Hospital NHS Trust
Some good leaflets about visiting a hospital and what to expect. Patient Information Leaflets
From Gov UK
“Sets out patients’ rights to choice in healthcare, where to find information to help choose, and how to complain if choice isn’t offered”
NHS Choice Framework NHS Choice Framework – GOV.UK
From NHS England
Covers services such as going to the dentist
Easy read information NHS England » Easy read information
Sepsis
Sepsis is when your body fights too hard against an infection. It is not common but it is good to know about it.
From NHS England
Easy read information about Sepsis NHS England » Easy read information: Sepsis
More information on sepsis can be found under
Library services
Local libraries give free access to books including eBooks and eAudiobooks. They also have Wi-Fi and you can learn how to use the internet. Libraries give some free access to a computer every day. Information on this can be found under
