Introduction

Health literacy impacts the extent to which individuals can effectively access and engage with healthcare services. Increasing health literacy has benefits for both patients and for those running NHS services – including more efficient use of resources, increased uptake of preventative initiatives and improved patient access, experience and outcomes. To achieve the vision of exceptional quality healthcare for all; ensuring equitable access, excellent experience and optimal outcomes, we must address the issue of health literacy gaps.

Health literacy is also closely correlated with health inequalities. Research has found that children born in communities with significant reading challenges have particularly low life expectancy rates, with gaps of 20-26 years between areas with low and high literacy rates (National Literacy Trust, 2018). Others argue that “the strongest correlation to ill health – stronger than education level, deprivation, age or ethnicity – is health literacy” (National Voices, 2017). In addition to the benefits described above, tackling health literacy challenges can support the aims of trusts and integrated care boards (ICBs), as set out in legislation, to reduce health inequalities and improve overall population health, while also aligning with broader operational priorities related to quality, safety and enhancing productivity.

This publication will explore what is meant by health literacy, the benefits of applying health literacy interventions, recommendations for trust board members, and case studies from five trusts that have effectively embedded interventions.

Recommendations for board members to adopt an organisational approach to health literacy

Our health inequalities guide for trust board members sets out a list of suggested actions board members – including the executive lead for health inequalities – can take to reduce disparities in care and outcomes (NHS Providers, 2024a). The guide includes a specific action to address low levels of health and digital literacy within local populations. Here, we have outlined further detailed recommendations that board leaders can take to tackle health literacy challenges and become health literate organisations. In summary, the suggested actions are:

1.  Provide clear leadership for becoming a health literate organisation.
2. Understand communities and current levels of health literacy.
3. Review and update resources to ensure services are fully accessible.
4. Train and empower staff on the implementation of health literacy interventions.
5. Co-produce resources with communities.
6. Evaluate the impact of health literacy interventions over time.

Improving health literacy in the NHS