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The Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) has published ‘Communicating in Plain English’ to help health and social care providers communicate effectively with all those using their services. This guide was drafted primarily to combat potential safety issues which can occur when service providers do not use language that is easily understood by patients and to avoid patients becoming overwhelmed by the amount of information provided to them.
The guide recommends replacing long and complicated information and jargon with clear and concise communication to allow service users to fully understand and access health and social care services. By providing service users with simple and understandable information this allows them to make informed decisions, access their entitlements and meet their legal duties.
To support these guides HIQA has also released a short educational video which explains the concept of using plain English in practice.
Please follow the links below to access the ‘Communicating in Plain English’ guides for adults and children.