Patient Information Forum (PiF) Overview

Information: first line therapy? Source: Salford’s Primary Care Commissioning Strategy 2007/08 – 2017/18

Consumer Health Information Challenges: Not recognised as a ‘therapy’ Lack of evidence around effectiveness Lack of quality standards Too much duplication Focus on provision not health outcomes Expertise required mainly unrecognised Disparate workforce across many sectors

Patient Information Forum Support network for consumer health information (CHI) professionals Mission To raise the profile and professionalism of consumer health information Mission To raise the profile and professionalism of consumer health information Established via King’s Fund in 1997 Funding: membership, events & partners

Key Objectives 1. Lobbying - raising the profile of consumer health information 2. Networking - sharing good practice to maximise impact 3. Learning - providing opportunities for skills & career development

Values Patient-focused Improving patient experience Sharing Access for all Independent Continuous learning

Membership 750 members, primarily in the UK NHS Trusts, NHS Direct, NHS Direct Wales, NHS24, MHRA, NICE, Picker, UK National Screening Committee (55%) Commercial - BUPA, Lloydspharmacy, Pfizer (20%) ‘Patient’ groups - Diabetes UK, Macmillan, MIND, Which?, ConsumerFocus Scotland (20%) Academic - London School of Economics (2%) Professional - Royal Colleges, General Medical Council, and Other e.g. BBC (3%)

PiF Management Structure Stratey Group Governance and strategy Operations Board Implementation Advisory Group Expert advice Working Groups Training, publications, events, campaigns

Influencing policy –DH Information Accreditation Scheme –Healthcare Commission Annual Health Check –Scottish Government Health Department NHS Health Information Support Service Thought pieces –‘Information as a therapy’ Profiling CHI –Presentations –Articles Lobbying

‘PiF Aware’ – Friday to c.4,000 people Website -100,000 hits/ eCommunity Conferences Workshops – ‘ improving’ a common theme together President’s Dinner –Annual CEO event Networking

Training –Two modules developed for pharmacos. –‘Introduction to CHI’ course in development ‘PiF Query’ – Q&A service Learning Promoting excellence - BUPA Foundation Communication award - BMA Patient Information awards Guidance – DH Patient Information Toolkit – King’s Fund ‘Producing Patient Information’ – CHI Tool development: EQIP, JudgeHealth

Benefits Membership of the UK's largest network of CHI professionals An e-community which allows you to share your expertise and support each other Regional co-ordinators in your part of the country who can help you network in your local area Regular opportunities to contribute to national and local policy ‘PiF Query’ provides the opportunity for members to share expertise and direct each other to the resources and people to improve your project Website pages managed and populated by people who are leaders in their health information fields Job ads for health information roles across all sectors Featured articles and top tips on the web site to help you develop practical expertise in selected topic areas An annual conference on current topics in consumer health information with workshops presentation and time to network with your peers Regular one day events and workshops on specific topic areas ‘PiF Aware’ newsletter every Friday with the week’s top health information news, research and good practice Special alerts telling you about forthcoming meetings, conferences and consultations Reduced rate subscriptions to top journals and books on CHI Being supported and sharing your skills Maintaining and building your expertise Keeping up to date

What could you do now? Join – Spread the word! Actively support our work e.g. funding Attend and contribute to PiF events Submit relevant work to [PiF aware] Use PiF members as a sounding board Co-develop workshops on topic(s) of interest Use local co-ordinators to develop activities Jointly develop products & services

Contact Mark Duman President Patient Information Forum Handel House 13 Park Road Manchester M8 4HT