Patient health information

East Cheshire NHS Trust is committed to producing patient health information of a high standard that complies with the recommendations of external agencies by which we are monitored, these being:

• Risk Management Standards of the NHS Litigation Authority
• Care Quality Commission 
• Equality and Human Rights Commission
• The Information Standard

East Cheshire NHS Trust received certification for the Information Standard in May 2011. This is a new certification scheme for health and social care supported by the Department of Health. The quality mark provides an easy way to identify quality information which you can trust. To qualify, organisations must meet rigorous quality standards.

No Decision about Me without Me

We produce good quality, up-to-date leaflets for patients and carers that are easy to understand and explain the risks and benefits of any procedure or surgery so that the patient can make an informed choice.

We produce a wide variety of internal patient information leaflets which are reviewed every three years. Each ward, department and community service has an 'information champion' who is responsible for ensuring that all the leaflets are up to date. Please contact the 'information champion' whose details are displayed by the leaflet rack in their ward or department, or Communications and Engagement on 01625 661254 if you require further information about our leaflets.

Patient Information on the internet

Download our free guide to patient information on the internet which contains sourcse of reliable information on the websites.

Patient.co.uk  and NHS Choices are also good sources of reliable patient information.

About My Health

EIDO Healthcare have launched a new forum on the About my Health site. The About My Health site allows patients and carers to find out more about the procedure they've been recommended, access an EIDO patient information document (the LITE versions) and view the references supporting the main EIDO documents. There is also a forum to discuss with other patients their experiences of having surgery or living with their condition.

Patient Information Leaflets (information for staff)

All trust patient information leaflets are updated in the Communications and Engagement Department. Please contact Hilary Belshaw on 01625 661254 or email hilary.belshaw@nhs.net for further details on how we can help review and update your patient information. Please note that the leaflets are also available online.

What do you think of our leaflets?

We always welcome feedback from patients and would be pleased if you could take a few minutes to review any patient information leaflets you have received from us. Please download and complete the leaflet review and evaluation form by ticking the boxes and by adding comments where necessary. Don’t forget to include the leaflet title at the top of the form.

Please email your leaflet to: ecn-tr.YourVoice@nhs.net  

Post it to: Communications and Engagement,  1st Floor Henbury House, Macclesfield District General Hospital, Victoria Road, Macclesfield, SK10 3BL. Phone: 01625 661560.

We aim to provide information appropriate to your needs. If you, or someone you care for, requires additional help with information or communication, please let the staff involved know. For large print, audio, Braille version or translation of any patient information leaflet please contact PPI Department on 01625 661560.

If you care for someone with learning disabilities, we can provide a 'patient passport' to accompany the patient throughout their hospital stay with information about the patient to help staff understand their needs better. We can also provide leaflets in easy-read versions for people with learning disabilities.

Consent

When a doctor, nurse or therapist asks you to agree to any form of examination, treatment or care, you have a choice. Information is key to this process and we aim to provide sufficient relevant and good quality information to enable you to make up your mind. You are always free to say no, or to ask for more information before you decide.  

You might also find it helpful to use The questions to ask leaflet.

Health Information Advisory Group (HIAG)

At East Cheshire NHS Trust we are keen to ensure that patients have a positive experience, and feel that good information and communication between staff, patients and carers is vital. We have a Health Information Advisory Group which meets monthly to discuss new patient information leaflets and ensure that all leaflets contain risks and benefits of the procedure or treatment so that full consent can be given.

The role of the Health Information Advisory Group is to review new and updated patient information leaflets produced in-house. The leaflets are reviewed at a monthly meeting comprising PPI staff, staff from the hospital and volunteers. The committee follow 'Discern' guidelines to ensure that the leaflet is judged to be of high quality giving consumer health information on treatment choices, risks and benefits.

View the minutes of the HIAG meetings on the right hand menu

Please send any patient information for review to Hilary Belshaw, Communications and Engagement on 01565 661560 or email hilary.belshaw@nhs.net

Readers' Panel

The Readers' Panel is a group of people who regularly review some of the patient information leaflets produced by East Cheshire NHS Trust. We also have a Young Readers Panel who review children's leaflets. They are public volunteers and look at various things such as:

• how easy the leaflet is to read and understand;
• clear print; and
• could more information be included to make it better?

The leaflets are usually reviewed through the post. If you are interested in becoming a member of the Reader’s Panel, or would like further information, please contact the PPI Department by emailing ecn-tr.YourVoice@nhs.net or telephone freephone 0800 195 4194.

Waters Green Medical Centre

Waters Green Medical Centre provides an information service run by specially trained members of the Friends of Waters Green Medical Centre.  

Please note about The Information Standard.

East Cheshire NHS Trust shall hold responsibility for the accuracy of the information they publish and neither the scheme operator nor the scheme owner shall have any responsibility whatsoever for costs losses or direct or indirect damages or costs arising from inaccuracy of information or omissions in information published on the website on behalf of East Cheshire NHS Trust. The following user-generated information is excluded from the scope of certification: weblogs, forums and personal experience pages.

Useful policies

• Interpreters policy
• Patient Health Information Policy
• Advertising and sponsorship policy