PHIS enables health organisations to meet the patient information requirements outlined in the following publications:-

England – Better information, better choices, better health
Scotland - Our National Health, Patient Focus and Public Involvement
Wales – Chapter 3 Improving Health in Wales, Informing Healthcare

PHIS is a “ready-made”, comprehensive health information service containing sections on:-

medical conditions, surgical operations healthy living, support groups, travel health, special centres such as mental health, and information about local health services.

The health factsheets have been written especially for patients and use language equivalent to a tabloid newspaper in order to make them understandable to the majority of people. Health information in languages other than English is also included.

PHIS allows a Trust to provide access to its own selection of internet-based health information for the benefit of patients and carers.

A feedback facility allows an organisation to develop a two way communication channel with patients and the public.

The service can be made available across a variety of channels to ensure that it reaches the widest audience. eg. It can be accessed from the internet, staff PCs/intranet, touchscreen kiosks and bedside terminals…and in printed form.

A number of PCT clients have chosen to install health information kiosks in community hospitals, health shops and other high traffic locations as an effective means of connecting with patients across a wide geographical area.

Benefits

- Recognised by CHI as examples of notable practice in two NHS Trusts
- Available for use 24/7
- Fully managed service. No IT support required.
- Leaflets can be printed on demand, saving on bulk printing costs.
- Encourages feedback from a wider audience.
- Enables better communications with staff, users and carers – providing consistent information across a variety of access points throughout the health community
- Usage statistics are provided to analyse where the service is being used and what it is being used for.

What NHS objectives can PHIS support?

- Supporting Self-Care and Management of Chronic Illness
- Building awareness of health services and how to access them
- More truly informed consent
- Enhancing early detection of illness (self- assessments)
- Improving medication compliance
- Catering for ethnic minorities
- Satisfying increasing public demand for good health information

Clients include:-

South Essex Partnership NHS Trust
Walsall Hospitals NHS Trust
Tameside and Glossop PCT
Melton, Rutland and Harborough PCT
Western Isles NHS Board
Pembrokeshire and Derwen NHS Trust

Contact Sarah Biggs on 01285 657516 to organise an online demonstration or e-mail sarah.biggs@intouchwithhealth.co.uk