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DLF wins place on Department of Health pilot scheme
New quality assurance on the way for health and social care information
22nd July 2008
The Disabled Living Foundation (DLF) has been chosen by the Department of Health from over 120 applications to participate in the testing phase of a new scheme to ensure good quality information across the health and social care sector.
The information accreditation scheme will combat substantial variation in the quality of health and social care information available and will provide a way for the public and professionals to know that the information they are using is reliable.
It will also support information producers in raising general standards and will be focused at the organisation level – accrediting the source of information rather than the information itself.
DLF is testing the scheme alongside others from the commercial, public and voluntary sectors. Subject to achieving certification through this testing phase, DLF will become one of the first scheme members when it launches in 2009.
Ann Keen MP, the parliamentary under-secretary for health services, said, “There is so much information out there that it’s hard for people – both the public and professionals – to know what can be relied upon. A scheme with a recognisable quality mark will assure them that information is from a dependable source.
”Over 120 applications were received by DH and DLF is one of just 40 organisations to have successfully made it through the application process. The work of these test sites will be invaluable in providing knowledge and insight for organisations who are considering joining the scheme in the future.”
As part of the testing phase DLF will be involved in:
- testing the scheme Standard
- sharing our experiences in order to support the development of case studies
- helping to develop the visual identity of the quality mark.
DLF will keep you updated on its progress over the coming months.
Further information and images
Please contact Hugh Dobie, Marketing Officer, Disabled Living Foundation on tel 020 7289 6111 ext 211 or email hugh.dobie@dlf.org.uk
For further DH information on the information accreditation scheme:
Email: accreditation@dh.gsi.gov.uk
Contact: Clare Wener, Department of Health, 020 7972 3726
Notes for editors
Disabled Living Foundation
The Disabled Living Foundation (DLF) provides a national audience with trusted information, advice and training to support independent living and choice for those who need assistive equipment. The DLF is widely recognised as an enterprising and innovative charity using interactive technology to bring its services to a growing mainstream audience of those with age-related, temporary or long term physical impairment.
DLF’s information is disseminated through a wide range of services. Healthcare professionals benefit from DLF Data, the UK’s only comprehensive and up-to-date database of daily living equipment and assistive technology and an extensive Training Programme including a variety of bespoke courses. They also attend the DLF Moving & Handling People conference, an annual event in 3 parts comprising an exhibition, practical workshops and plenary sessions.
Members of the public can obtain advice from the DLF Helpline service, which responds to up to 25,000 enquiries a year, or try products out at its Equipment Demonstration Centre in London, one of the largest in the UK.
The DLF also provides a range of online services at www.dlf.org.uk, including:
- Free factsheets giving advice on a wide range of topics about disability and mobility products and choosing equipment for older and disabled people.
- AskSARA, (www.asksara.org.uk), an online self assessment tool that allows people to easily obtain useful advice and information on products that could help them.
- ‘Bathing made easy’, (www.bathingmadeeasy.com), a free comprehensive search and comparison website containing advice and information on bathing and showering products for older and disabled people.
- ‘Telecare made easy’ (www.telecaremadeeasy.com), an advice and information portal about telecare equipment, including case studies
Department of Health Information Accreditation Scheme
The information accreditation scheme will ‘kite mark’ organisations that produce health and social care information. The scheme will be focused at the organisation level – accrediting the source of information rather than the information itself – through certification against a national Standard. The public would be reassured through a recognisable quality mark. This enables the scheme to have a broad impact as it can be used to mark information in any format – from websites to pamphlets. For further details on the scheme please visit: http://www.dh.gov.uk/accreditation
“People need to be supported to make better decisions about their own health and welfare because there are widespread, systematic barriers to decision making. These failures include a lack of full information….”
(Wanless, D., 2004, Securing Good Health for the Whole Population, HM Treasury)
“We must continue to empower patients with greater choice, better information, and more control and influence.”
(High Quality Care for All: NHS Next Stage Review Final Report 2008)
Preliminary research was undertaken into an information accreditation scheme and information specialists surveyed anticipated several benefits:
- improved information quality
- increased revenue for information providers
- enhanced trust in the information from health professionals
- greater use of the materials by the people who use health and social care services and the public
- improved public image for the information producers
- wider recognition of best practice.
(Coulter, A. & Ellins, J., 2006, Patient-focused interventions: A review of the evidence, Picker Institute Europe)
NHS Direct will be overseeing the testing phase on behalf of the Department of Health. Once the scheme is launched in 2009, it will be run by an independent scheme owner. The scheme owner is being procured this year through an open procurement process.
The scheme is based on rigorous community-built standards for information producers. It will establish certification and testing procedures that will help information producers become accredited. The scheme will also provide support for information producers across the public, voluntary and commercial sectors in their efforts to achieve and maintain accreditation.
The scheme standard has been developed through engaging with accreditation experts, organisations involved in standards development and information producers.
The 40 successful organisations are:
Voluntary Sector
Arthritis Care
Asthma UK
Brain & Spine Foundation
Breast Cancer Care
British Dietetic Association
British Heart Foundation
Cancer Research UK
Diabetes UK
Disabled Living Foundation
Epilepsy Action
Macmillan Cancer Support
MIND
Multiple Sclerosis Society
National Association for Colitis and Crohn's Disease
Penny Brohn Cancer Care
Rethink
RNIB
Sue Ryder Care
Terrence Higgins Trust
The Blood Pressure Association
The Carers Resource
The Prostate Cancer Charity
The Stroke Association
Thyroid UK
Public sector
Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Doncaster PCT
Hartlepool Borough Council Adult & Community Services Department
National Institute for Clinical Excellence
Oxfordshire County Council's Social and Community Services
Pennine Acute Hospitals NHS Trust
Poole Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
Royal Free Hampstead NHS Trust
Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust
Salisbury NHS Foundation Trust
Commercial sector and other
BUPA
BMJ Group
Datapharm Communications
DIPEX
Patient UK
The Royal College of Psychiatrists
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