1. The Role of Welsh Health Libraries in Supporting Information Provision to NHS Users Anne Cleves AWHILES Conference 14 th July 2009

2. Development of improved health information to help people engage with their care in an informed way (Wanless, 2002) Do health libraries have a role?

3. Background Key Documents Improving Health in Wales: A plan for the NHS with its partners Improving Health in Wales: A plan for the NHS with its partners (National Assembly in Wales, 2001) Designed for Life: Creating World Class Health and Social Care for Wales in the 21 st Century Designed for Life: Creating World Class Health and Social Care for Wales in the 21 st Century (Welsh Assembly Government, 2005) Securing Our Future Health: Taking a Long-Term View Securing Our Future Health: Taking a Long-Term View (Wanless, 2002)

4. Research Questions What role do health libraries in Wales play in supporting information provision to NHS users? What role do health libraries in Wales play in supporting information provision to NHS users? What methods and resources do health libraries in Wales employ in supporting information provision to NHS users? What methods and resources do health libraries in Wales employ in supporting information provision to NHS users? What are health librarians attitudes to supporting information provision to NHS users? What are health librarians attitudes to supporting information provision to NHS users? How can health libraries improve their services to NHS users? How can health libraries improve their services to NHS users?

5. Objectives Identify relevant literature on the role and methods employed by health libraries to facilitate access to health information by NHS users. Identify relevant literature on the role and methods employed by health libraries to facilitate access to health information by NHS users. Identify the arena of health libraries in Wales and the population of NHS users that they serve. Identify the arena of health libraries in Wales and the population of NHS users that they serve. Conduct a survey of health libraries to assess the services provided to NHS users and the attitudes of librarians to providing services to this user group. Conduct a survey of health libraries to assess the services provided to NHS users and the attitudes of librarians to providing services to this user group. Review the findings of the survey in the relation to the findings of the literature review. Review the findings of the survey in the relation to the findings of the literature review. Draw conclusions on the findings to inform recommendations on how health libraries can improve their services to NHS users. Draw conclusions on the findings to inform recommendations on how health libraries can improve their services to NHS users.

6. Definitions NHS User: as a patient or member of the public who uses the services of the NHS, including those who are well and living in the community e.g. people targeted by public health campaigns. NHS User: as a patient or member of the public who uses the services of the NHS, including those who are well and living in the community e.g. people targeted by public health campaigns. Health Information: information regarding diseases, conditions, care services and support groups. Health Information: information regarding diseases, conditions, care services and support groups. Health Libraries: libraries that specifically deal with information related to health. Health Libraries: libraries that specifically deal with information related to health.

7. Literature Review Main Themes Reference Services Reference Services Collaborative Partnerships Collaborative Partnerships Patient Education Rounds Patient Education Rounds

8. Issues Funding Funding Staff time Staff time Appropriateness of resources Appropriateness of resources Librarians attitudes Librarians attitudes Training Training Electronic resource licenses Electronic resource licenses Computer access Computer access

9. Welsh Health Libraries Hospital Library Hospital Library Academic Library Academic Library Heath Charity Library Heath Charity Library Public Health Library Public Health Library Government Health Library Government Health Library Professional Health Organisation Library Professional Health Organisation Library

10. Pilot Study Cancer Research Wales Library Cancer Research Wales Library National Leadership and Innovation Agency for Healthcare, Learning Laboratory National Leadership and Innovation Agency for Healthcare, Learning Laboratory

11. Questionnaire Section A: Library characteristics Section A: Library characteristics Section B: Libraries involvement with NHS users Section B: Libraries involvement with NHS users Section C: Librarians attitudes to information provision to NHS users Section C: Librarians attitudes to information provision to NHS users Section D: Librarians attitudes to methods for information provision to NHS users. Section D: Librarians attitudes to methods for information provision to NHS users.

12. Reference Services Only 3% of Welsh health libraries hold information resources for NHS users. Only 3% of Welsh health libraries hold information resources for NHS users. 83% of Welsh health libraries do not routinely allow physical access. 83% of Welsh health libraries do not routinely allow physical access. Only 10% of Welsh health libraries allow NHS users to become members. Only 10% of Welsh health libraries allow NHS users to become members.

13. Direct Access 13% of librarians agreed that NHS users should be allowed access to any health library.

14. Physical Resources 73% of librarians felt the resources held are not appropriate for use by NHS users.

15. 70% of librarians agreed that are not funded to provide information to NHS users. Funding

16. Training 60% agreed that health library staff are not trained to give information directly to NHS users.

17. Collaborative Partnerships 42% of libraries said they had provided health information to public libraries. 42% of libraries said they had provided health information to public libraries. 54% of libraries said there was no patient information service within their organisation and a further 33% said they didnt know. 54% of libraries said there was no patient information service within their organisation and a further 33% said they didnt know. 32% of libraries conduct mediated searches to inform the production of resources for NHS users. 32% of libraries conduct mediated searches to inform the production of resources for NHS users.

18. Other Sectors 77% of libraries agreed that libraries from other sectors should work together.

19. Collaborative Partnerships with Public Libraries 50% of librarians agreed with the scenario 50% of librarians agreed with the scenario

20. Collaborative Partnerships with Patient Information Services 75% of librarians agreed with the scenario. 75% of librarians agreed with the scenario.

21. Patient Education Rounds 97% of Welsh libraries have not assisted NHS users with their information needs away from the library environment. 97% of Welsh libraries have not assisted NHS users with their information needs away from the library environment.

22. Patient Education Rounds 38% of librarians disagreed with the scenario 38% of librarians disagreed with the scenario 35% of librarians were undecided 35% of librarians were undecided 27% of librarians agreed with the scenario 27% of librarians agreed with the scenario

23. Conclusions Welsh health libraries do not play significant role in information provision to NHS users. Welsh health libraries do not play significant role in information provision to NHS users. Welsh health libraries do not have resources specifically aimed at NHS users. Welsh health libraries do not have resources specifically aimed at NHS users. Welsh health librarians overall displayed a negative attitude to developing a role in information provision to NHS users. Welsh health librarians overall displayed a negative attitude to developing a role in information provision to NHS users.

24. Barriers Funding Funding Would be a fantastic service to offer but where does the funding for staff time and resources come from? Resources Resources I think librarians could provide an excellent, professional service to the public, but we are not resourced for it. Training Training Library staff are not trained to give information directly to the public. They may provide inappropriate information, not knowing details of the patients conditionLibrary staff are not trained to give information directly to the public. They may provide inappropriate information, not knowing details of the patients condition

25. Recommendations Take a more proactive role in partnerships with other sector libraries. Take a more proactive role in partnerships with other sector libraries. Take a more proactive role with other stakeholders. Take a more proactive role with other stakeholders. Liaise with health professionals on the information needs of NHS users. Liaise with health professionals on the information needs of NHS users. Establish a more cohesive policy nationally on health libraries role in information provision to NHS users. Establish a more cohesive policy nationally on health libraries role in information provision to NHS users.

26. Future Research Assessment of information provision provided by other services across Wales Assessment of information provision provided by other services across Wales Health professionals views on libraries involvement in information provision to NHS users Health professionals views on libraries involvement in information provision to NHS users

27. Thank you ! Lynchae1@cf.ac.uk

28. The Way Forward ?

29. Discuss! 54% of libraries said there was no patient information service within their organisation. 33% didnt know. Is this any of our business? What (if anything) should we do about What (if anything) should we do about it?