The case for change

Health literacy can be improved by the implementation of effective interventions and the case for change is strong.

The benefits of improving health literacy for trusts are wide reaching from an organisational perspective. Improving individual patients’ health outcomes and increasing positive engagement with services can be achieved when looking at health literacy through the lens of addressing health inequalities. This approach can align with broader operational challenges faced by NHS trusts – namely, improving access, reducing waiting lists, increasing patient safety and enhancing productivity.