New health literacy toolkit

43% of English working age adults do not have the health literacy skills to routinely understand health information. The percentage rises to 61% if this includes or involves numbers. To help improve this situation, Health Education England, in partnership with Public Health England, NHS England and the Community Health and Learning Foundation, have launched a practical resources toolkit to help health staff tackle the challenges caused by low levels of health literacy and improve health outcomes.

Health literacy is closely related to information literacy. The toolkit offers a suite of resources including a ‘how to’ guide’ and workshop planning. These resources will support health care workers with tools and techniques that can be implemented into everyday practice. These small changes can help people to improve their own health and wellbeing and better manage a long-term health condition.