October is Health literacy month. What does this mean for you?
Health literacy is about people having enough knowledge, understanding, skills and confidence to use health information, to be active partners in their care, and to navigate health and social care systems.
People need good health literacy skills to:
- manage health conditions such as diabetes
- follow medication instructions
- understand test results
- communicate health symptoms to health professionals
- understand appointment letters or hospital signage
- participate in health discussions and decision making about their health
Throughout Health Literacy Month we will highlight all of the tools, tips, techniques and good practice available to people in Fife, please find some useful websites below:
Health Literacy Fife
Health literacy is about people having enough knowledge, understanding, skills and confidence to use health information, to be active partners in their care, and to navigate health and social care systems. Tools, tips and techniques to help staff improve their health literacy.
Health literacy in Fife | NHS Fife
Health Literacy Place
Techniques, videos, news and e-learning, promoting positive health literacy is everyone's responsibility.
Home - The Health Literacy Place
It's OK to Ask
When you understand what’s going on with your health, you can make better decisions around your care and treatment. It’s important to know what’s going on with your own healthcare. Knowing the right questions to ask can make all the difference
Plain English Campaign
A campaign against gobbledygook, jargon and misleading public information. We promote the use of plain English and offer a number of different services, including editing and training, to help organisations communicate with their audience as clearly as possible.
NHS Inform
Health information that anyone living in or visiting Scotland can trust, a symptom checker, service finder and A-Z of illnesses and conditions.
Scottish health information you can trust | NHS inform
Pharmacy First
Allow community pharmacies to give people expert help for treating conditions such as sore throats, earache and cold sores, along with common clinical conditions such as urinary tract infections (UTIs).
This service will help people access the right care in the right place, without having to go to their GP practice or local Accident and Emergency Department for non-urgent treatment.
NHS Pharmacy First Scotland | NHS inform
Podiatry
NHS Fife Podiatry Service is open to everyone who lives in Fife, who has a podiatric need that we can help with. We maximise mobility by offering treatment and advice that reflect the patient's needs. Health promotion and foot health advice are offered. You can self refer to the service, and an advice line is also available.
Foot care and podiatry services in NHS Fife | NHS Fife
Health Promotion Training Programme
The Health Promotion Training Team provides and co-ordinates training to enable people working in Fife to contribute towards reducing health inequalities and improving the wellbeing of individuals, families and communities.
Health promotion training | NHS Fife
HPAC Fife
An online catalogue of resources, banners, posters and educational demonstrations on key health topics such as mental health, sexual health, smoking, young people and nutrition.
Wellbeing Toolkit
The Toolkit is for anyone who wants to improve their mental and physical wellbeing. Tools to help you think about what you are good at and how you can use those skills, abilities and personality traits in different ways (applying for work, developing them at college or using them to volunteer). A range of health and wellbeing apps, websites, courses and contacts which can help you to increase your wellbeing.
Our Fife
Help with the cost of living. Everyone is feeling the impact of the cost-of-living crisis. We want to make sure you're aware of the support services available in Fife. From improving your income, to support with food, energy and your wellbeing, there's a range of help available.
Cost of Living Support (fife.scot)
National Literacy campaign
Literacy gives you the power to shape your future. If you grow up without the tools that you need to communicate effectively, it is much harder to get where you want to go in life. As well as being the foundation of personal success, literacy is also a national imperative. It drives economic growth and helps to promote social cohesion by reducing inequality.
Policy and campaigning | National Literacy Trust
Speech and Language
Our speech and language therapists work with children and adults where difficulties with communication, eating, drinking and swallowing are causing barriers to health and wellbeing, and the ability to participate in society.
Find out more about Health literacy in Fife using the link below
Health literacy in Fife